What is the Railway Labor Act (RLA)?

The Railway Labor Act (RLA) is a federal labor law that protects the rights of workers employed by railroads throughout the United States. The RLA was passed in 1926 and is administered by the National Mediation Board. The main purpose of this law is to promote the stability of the railroad industry by ensuring a fair and efficient process for collective bargaining and labor disputes between employers and employees. The RLA requires railroads and their workers to engage in collective bargaining before labor disputes arise and it encourages railroads and workers to reach agreements without the use of strikes or lockouts. It also grants workers the right to bargain collectively over wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The RLA also establishes procedures for resolving disputes, including the use of mediation and arbitration. Mediation is a voluntary process in which a third-party mediator assists the parties in reaching an agreement. If mediation fails, the RLA also allows for arbitration, a process involving a neutral third-party arbitrator who issues a binding decision on the parties. The RLA is enforced in the state of Florida by the National Mediation Board. All organizations that engage in interstate rail transport are subject to the regulations set forth in the act. This includes freight and passenger railroads, airlines, and commuter lines.

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What is the Railway Labor Act (RLA)?

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