Labor & Employment Law

(The United States Department of Labor-Women's Bureau)

Labor Unions

Many claims of breach of the duty of fair representation stem from a labor union's refusal to pursue a grievance on behalf of a union member. Despite the prohibition of invidious or hostile discrimination in representing its members, labor unions have significant leeway in the way they represent their members, including the handling of grievances. A union has the discretion to determine whether a grievance of one of its members is in fact meritorious or not. Dissatisfied union members whose unions have decided adversely to the members as to the merit of their grievances may bring lawsuits against the union for breach of the duty of fair representation.

The Privacy Act of 1974

The Privacy Act of 1974 seeks to protect individuals from unjustified invasions of their privacy by restricting the disclosure of personal information that is collected and maintained by federal agencies.

Regulation of Common Situs Picketing--Neutral Sites

Picketing is a tool commonly used by labor unions to publicize the existence of a labor dispute with a particular employer. One type of picketing that garners particular scrutiny is common situs picketing, which occurs where an employer's work site that is targeted for union picketing is also the work site of another employer.

Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor

Background