Labor Relations

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#Railway Labor Act (1926)

The Railway Labor Act was written in 1926 as combined efforts from both rail labor and management. In 1936 the airlines were included into the Railway Labor Act. At this time the act is administered by a federal agency the National Mediation Board.

The five general purposes for the Railway Labor Act are avoiding service interruptions, elimination any restrictions on joining a union, guaranteeing the freedom of employees in any matter of self organization, providing for prompt dispute settlement and enabling prompt grievance settlement. The act also has a mandatory dispute resolution process, that can be time consuming, to try and avoid strikes fueled by the union representation and grievance disputes. The dispute process delays each parties ability to take imitate action during a bargaining negotiation disputes until the resolution process is complete.

Part of the dispute resolution process may include requesting assistance from the National Mediation Board to help mediate a bargain negotiation. The National Mediation Board has the option to offer mediation help to the parties without being requested by either side. Before a strike can occur the National Mediation Board must first declare an impasse. The president also has the option to have a Presidential Emergency Board review the bargaining dispute if the acting president feels that a strike to stop work will make a significant impact that disrupts interstate commerce. Another part of the dispute resolution process is the National Railroad Adjustment Board which has the power to settle the grievances of all parties involved. The National Railroad Adjustment Board is made up of equal representation of union and management members.

After World War I the labor movement seen new practices being adapted by employers like the American Plan, open shop and yellow-dog contracts. The American Plan was used by employers to question to right of Union Officials to represent...