Unions and Collective Bargaining
How Workers Vote Out a Union: Decertification Explained
Decertification is how workers vote out a union that represents them. It starts with a petition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), signed by 30…
Work and Workplace Issues
Work and workplace issues cover the legal relationship between people and their jobs. Federal and state laws set rules for pay, leave, safety, discrimination, and organizing, and they decide who counts as an employee. Agencies such as the Department of Labor enforce them, while public programs help when work ends or benefits are needed.
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October 5last updated
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Latest in Work and Workplace Issues
Unions and Collective Bargaining
What Unions Do and How Collective Bargaining Works
A plain-English guide to how unions form and negotiate, covering authorization cards, NLRB elections, first contracts, dues, grievances, and strikes.
Employment Rights and Protections
Your Rights as an Employee Regarding Breaks and Retaliation
Federal law doesn't require lunch or coffee breaks, but retaliation protections still apply. See how state rules differ and what's protected.
Unions and Collective Bargaining
Why Postal Workers Can’t Legally Strike
Postal workers cannot legally strike under federal law. This explains the 1970 mail strike and how arbitration settles pay disputes today.
Topics in Work and Workplace Issues
Rights and safety
Employment Rights and Protections covers the laws that set a floor for how employers treat workers, Workplace Safety covers protection from injury and illness on the job, and Worker Classification covers the line between employees and independent contractors.
Employment Rights and Protections
37 articles
- How Remote Work Is Forcing Government to Update Outdated Laws
- The Side Hustle Economy: Government’s Role in America’s New Work Reality
- Workplace Harassment: What’s Illegal and What Isn’t
Organized labor
Unions and Collective Bargaining covers how workers bargain together with employers.
Benefits and job loss
Employee Benefits covers the pay and protections that come with a job beyond wages, and Unemployment and Job Loss covers the programs that help when someone loses work.
All Articles on Work and Workplace Issues
How American Unions Have Changed Since the 1930s
The labor union evolved from a clandestine, often criminalized fraternity of skilled craftsmen to a massive industrial power broker. In its current form, it…
Why Business Tends to Dislike Unions—and How Labor Is Responding
The American labor landscape is undergoing profound turbulence. After decades of steady decline in membership and political influence, organized labor has re-emerged as a…
Why Labor Unions Are Struggling Despite Record Public Support
Americans love labor unions more than they have in decades, but union membership keeps falling. This paradox defines the modern labor movement. According to…
The Role of Teacher Unions in America
Teacher unions occupy a unique space in American public policy. They function as both professional associations advocating for teaching standards and industrial labor unions…
Federal Workers Caught in Shutdown: Why America’s Largest Government Union Demanded Action
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the nation's largest union representing 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers, has issued public demands for lawmakers…
Can the President Fire Federal Workers During a Shutdown?
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's plan to permanently terminate thousands of furloughed federal employees during the government shutdown that began…
Local Government Employment Liability
Local governments employ millions of Americans, from police officers and firefighters to teachers and sanitation workers. As employers, these government bodies must follow employment…
A Guide to Each State’s Job Training and Placement Programs
A network of public programs exists to help you succeed: finding jobs, accessing education and training for new careers, and connecting with employers seeking…
How to Apply for Unemployment Benefits
Losing a job creates both financial and emotional challenges. The Unemployment Insurance (UI) program provides a critical safety net during this difficult time. These…
Free Job Training and Placement Programs, Explained
The United States operates the world's largest publicly funded job training network. This system provides free career counseling, skills training, and job placement services…