By Aiden ArmstrongEven though an employer may not like it, employees have the right to form a union where they work. The National Labor Relations Act, NLRA, gives employees the right to organize and form or join labor organizations, to choose a representative to bargain collectively with the company, and to engage in related activities. To make sure these rights are protected, employees planning to organize should consult with an attorney in case an employer tries to retaliate against them.
Rights of Employees
If people working for a private business want to organize or join a union, they are protected by federal law. They have the right to do the following:
- organize meetings with co-workers,
- petition or leaflet,
- organize or join a union,
- picket, and
- strike.
Labor law attorneys in Northampton, MA, can work to make sure the employees’ rights are not interfered with and help with collective bargaining efforts. They can help ensure employers bargain in good faith so employees’ demands for fair wages and other conditions are met.
Compensation for Violations of NLRA
Under the NLRA, employers must recognize any union that the majority of employees chose to organize or join. If an employer violates the rights of employees trying to organize by terminating them, then labor law attorneys can represent employees in a hearing regarding the violations. If the hearing is successful, then employers may have to take one of the following steps:
- reinstate employees who were terminated for participating in organizational activities,
- reimburse employees for lost wages and benefits, or
- bargain in good faith with the union.
If you and your co-workers want to organize a union, contact labor law attorneys at firms such as Connor Morneau & Olin LLP to get advice about your legal rights. They will inform you about what you can and cannot do when organizing and help during collective bargaining meetings to make sure employees get fair wages and good working conditions.
