General Counsel (Labor) Law and Legal Definition
General counsel is the term commonly used in the U.S. to refer a chief lawyer of a legal department in a corporation or government department. In labor matters general counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority investigates unfair labor practice charges and files and prosecutes unfair labor practice complaints. S/he supervises the Federal Labor Relations Authority’s regional directors who have been delegated authority to process representation petitions.
The statute which lays down the rules with regard to the general counsel of the Federal Labor Relations Authority is 5 USCS § 7104 (f).
The statute provides that; “(1) The General Counsel of the Authority shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for a term of 5 years. The General Counsel may be removed at any time by the President. The General Counsel shall hold no other office or position in the Government of the United States except as provided by law.
(2) The General Counsel may--
(A) investigate alleged unfair labor practices under this chapter [5 USCS §§ 7101 et seq.].
(B) file and prosecute complaints under this chapter [5 USCS §§ 7101 et seq.], and (C) exercise such other powers of the Authority as the Authority may prescribe.
(3) The General Counsel shall have direct authority over, and responsibility for, all employees in the office of General Counsel, including employees of the General Counsel in the regional offices of the Authority.”
