What is the purpose of the Railway Labor Act?

The Railway Labor Act, also known as the RLA, is the federal statute that governs labor relations in the railway and airline industry. It was passed in 1926 and is the longest-standing federal labor law in the United States. The purpose of the Act is to protect the rights of employees while ensuring the efficient and safe operation of the railway and airline industry. The Act aims to ensure that employers and employees have the tools to engage in collective bargaining. The RLA requires employers to bargain with their employees on the conditions of employment, such as wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. This ensures that the rights of the employees are adequately protected and that the collective bargaining process is free from any form of coercion. In order to ensure the efficient operation of the railway and airline industry, the RLA requires employers to engage in dispute resolution processes in an attempt to resolve any labor disputes. The Act ensures that disputes are resolved through a process of mediation and arbitration, which is overseen by the National Mediation Board. This ensures that labor disputes are resolved in a timely and efficient manner, without resorting to strikes and picketing. Overall, the purpose of the Railway Labor Act is to protect the rights of employees while ensuring the efficient and safe operation of the railway and airline industry. The Act ensures that employers and employees have the tools to engage in collective bargaining, and it provides a process of dispute resolution which helps to ensure that labor disputes are resolved in a timely and efficient manner.

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