Your Right to Organize
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) gives most private-sector workers the right to join together to improve wages, benefits and working conditions, whether or not they have a union.
- Private-sector workers
Photo: crew meeting together at a break to talk about working conditions
Your Section 7 rights
You have the right to:
- Form, join or help a union
- Bargain collectively through representatives you choose
- Act together with coworkers for mutual aid or protection, called “protected concerted activity”
- Choose not to do any of these things
Protected concerted activity (even without a union)
These are generally protected when done with or on behalf of coworkers:
- Talking with coworkers about pay, benefits, schedules or safety, including on social media
- Signing a petition or going together to the boss about a problem
- Refusing, together, to work in conditions you believe are unsafe
- Talking to the media or a government agency about working conditions
Employers can’t ban you from discussing your wages with coworkers.
Illegal employer actions (unfair labor practices)
- Firing, disciplining, demoting or threatening you for union or concerted activity
- Asking you about your or coworkers’ union support in a coercive way
- Promising benefits if you reject a union, or spying on union activity
- Refusing to hire you because you’re a union member
Who’s not covered by the NLRA
Supervisors and managers, true independent contractors, agricultural and domestic workers, and government employees. Railroad and airline workers are covered by a different law. Public employees’ rights depend on state law.
Deadline: you generally must file an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB within 6 months of what happened. Filing is free, and you don’t need a lawyer.
Standards & references
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