Labor Relations

Complete an in-depth analysis of the Railway Labor Act (RLA), including its amendments, judicial interpretations and administrative law. Having studied the RLA over the past few weeks you will now tie it together with what you have learned about labor relations thus far. Choose a case from the Saint Leo online Library or any other internet source on this topic and be sure to include this in your answer.

The Railway Labor Act (RLA) 1926 was one of the first implemented modern labor laws which represents the rail and air carriers and their non-managerial employees (Fossum, 2012). It is a federal statute that recognizes the collective bargaining rights within the airline and railroad industry. The RLA includes labor matters such as collective bargaining, organizing campaigns, mediation, grievance, arbitration along with airline merger labor protective provisions and seniority program. There RLA has five general purposes which include:

 Avoiding service interruptions

 Eliminate and forbid any limitations or restrictions on joining a union

 Guaranteeing the freedom of employees in any matter of self-organizing

 Providing for prompt dispute settlement

 Enabling prompt and orderly grievance settlement covering pay rates, terms and working environment

Amendments

 February 14, 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 sign and implemented by President Barack Obama

 June 21, 1934 RLA established the National Mediation Board

The case involving McMahon vs. Delta airlines, Inc. was brought forth on November 16, 2011 under the action of the Railway Labor Act by the Plaintiff McMahon (McMAHON v. DELTA AIR LINES, INC). The action was brought forth due to a merger that took place between Northwest Airline and Delta Airline in 2008 in which flight attendants employed by Northwest were unionized and paid less and Delta flight attendants were not unionized and paid more. In 2012 Delta flight attendants voted against being unionized by the AFL-CIO...