THE RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES

The rights guaranteed employees whom the law covers are found in Section 7 of the Act. This section states:

Employee’s shall have the right to self-organization, to form, or assist labor organizations to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose or collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, such activities except to the extent that such right may be organization as a condition of employment as authorized in Section 8 (a) (3).

UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES OF EMPLOYERS

An employer as defined in the law includes “any person acting as an agent of an employer, directly or indirectly.”

The law forbids employers to engage in six general types of unfair labor practices.

INTERFERENCE, RESTRAINT, OR COERCION

It is a violation of Section 8 (a) (1) for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed by Section 7.

EXAMPLES OF SUCH ILLEGAL CONDUCT:

· Threatening employees with loss of jobs or benefits if they should join a union.

· Threatening to close down a plant if a union should be organized in it.

· Questioning employees about their union activities or membership in such circumstance as will tend to restrain or coerce the employees.

· Spying on union gatherings.

· Granting wage increases deliberately timed to defeat self-organization among employees.

DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT FOR UNION ACTIVITIES:

Section 8 (a) (3) forbids an employer to discriminate against employees “in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment to encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization.” Violation of this provision of the law discharge or other employment discrimination for union activity or other protected group activity is the most common unfair labor practice.