A GLOSSARY OF LABOR TERMS
Terms
Bargaining Unit: A group of employees in a given workplace who have a sufficient similarity of interest to constitute a unit for the purpose of bargaining collectively with their employer. A bargaining unit is usually defined by the National Labor Relations Board, or similar federal, state or local agency. top
Certification: Official recognition by a labor relations board that an employee organization is the exclusive representative for all the employees in an appropriate bargaining unit for the purpose of collective bargaining. top
Contract, or Collective Bargaining Agreement: A formal written agreement over wages, hours and conditions of employment entered into by an employer and the union representing the employees in the bargaining unit. top
Employee Assistance Program: A confidential information, support and referral service designed to help employees cope with personal problems which have a negative impact on their lives and, subsequently, on their work productivity. Deteriorating job performance can lead to an employer taking disciplinary action. Such programs often provide assistance in such situations as emotional stress, marital and family problems, financial and legal difficulties, and drug or alcohol abuse. top
Free Rider: An employee who chooses not to join the union that has negotiated the contract over his/her wages and working conditions, and who reaps the benefits from that contract.
Fringe Benefits: Vacations, holidays, insurance, medical benefits, pensions and other economic benefits that are provided to employees under the union contract; these are in addition to direct wages. top
Labor Relations Board: Quasi-judicial agency set up under national or state labor relations acts. Its duties are: defining appropriate bargaining units; holding elections to determine if workers want union representation; certifying unions to represent employees; and applying legal provisions prohibiting certain employer or union unfair labor practices. top
Picketing: The carrying of signs or the passing out of literature protesting working conditions or actions taken by the employer. Picketing occurs during a strike, or in the form of an informational picket. In this tactic, designed to put pressure on the employer, union members inform the public and other workers about the conditions they feel are unfair. top
Representation Election: A vote conducted by an appropriate labor board or agency to determine whether a majority of the workers in a previously established bargaining unit want to be represented by a given union. top
Scab: A person who continues to work, or who accepts employment, while the workers are on strike. By filling the jobs of striking workers, and keeping the employer operational, scabs may weaken or help break the strike. top
Seniority: Length of service with an employer. Based on their seniority, preference can be accorded to employees in such areas as promotion, transfer, shift assignment, scheduling, vacation accrual, layoff, recall, etc. top
Sexual Harassment: Any unwarranted and repeated sexual comments, looks, suggestions or physical contact that create an uncomfortable working environment for an employee. Sexual harassment is against the law (see pages 40-41).top
Unfair Labor Practice: An employer or union practice forbidden by the National Labor Relations Act, the Civil Service Reform Act (for federal workers), or state and local laws, subject to court appeal. It often involves the employer’s efforts to avoid bargaining a contract in good faith. Other examples of possible ULPs are when management fails to provide information the union has requested and needs to process a grievance, or when management repeatedly fails to implement grievance settlements or arbitration awards. top