What is the Rail Labor Negotiating Reform Act?
The Rail Labor Negotiating Reform Act (RLNRA) is a federal law that applies to railway labor unions in North Carolina and all other states. It was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1977 to facilitate collective bargaining between railroads and labor unions. The RLNRA sets out a series of rules and regulations that govern labor relations between railroads and unions, such as how negotiations are to be conducted, how issues are to be resolved, and what constitutes an unfair labor practice. In North Carolina, the state has adopted some of the provisions of the RLNRA into its own state labor law. This law guarantees the right of railway employees to unionize and also requires employers and unions to bargain in good faith when it comes to wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. The RLNRA also requires that no permanent agreement can be reached unless an agreement is first voted on by a majority of the railway employees. This is referred to as “majority rule” and is meant to ensure that the interests of the employees, both union and non-union, are fairly represented in the collective bargaining process. The RLNRA is also important because it sets up procedures to help prevent strikes and other labor disputes between railway companies and unions. It encourages the parties to come to a resolution through negotiation and mediation, rather than through strike action. If a railway company and a union cannot come to an agreement through negotiation, arbitration can be requested through the National Mediation Board.
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