Railway Labor Act Law and Legal Definition
The Railway Labor Act of 1926 is a federal statute recognizing the right of collective bargaining in the railroad and airline industries. Some of the labor matters governed by the Railway Labor Act inlude union organizing campaigns, collective bargaining, mediation and other proceedings before the National Mediation Board, grievance arbitration before System Boards of Adjustment, and airline merger labor protective provisions and seniority integration.
The stated purpose of the Act is:
"(1) To avoid any interruption to commerce or to the operation of any carrier engaged therein; (2) to forbid any limitation upon freedom of association among employees or any denial, as a condition of employment or otherwise, of the right of employees to join a labor organization; (3) to provide for the complete independence of carriers and of employees in the matter of self-organization to carry out the purposes of this chapter-, (4) to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of all disputes concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions; (5) to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of all disputes growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application of agreements covering rates of pay, rules, or working conditions."
