How to Report Unfair Practices to the Labor Board
The National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB, is charged with investigating allegations of unfair labor practices made by employees, employers and unions. The NLRB enforces the National Labor Relations Act, which oversees the rights of employees to engage in union activities and collective bargaining agreements. The NLRA also regulates the unfair labor practices of unions such as refusing to bargain with employees in good faith. Allegations of unfair labor practices should be made to the NLRB, who will then investigate the complaint.
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Instructions
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Contact an information officer. An unfair labor practices charge should first be brought to the attention of the NLRB information officer in the region where the violation allegedly occurred. The NLRB website can provide you with the address of the NLRB office closest to your workplace. The information officer can advise you on the procedure for handling complaints and provide you with an overview of the investigative process.
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Fill out the necessary forms. To be timely, you must file an unfair labor practices complaint within six months after the alleged violation. The information officer in your region can provide you with the proper forms to file the complaint. In general, NLRB Form 501 is used to file a complaint against an employer, and NLRB Form 508 is used to file a complaint against a union or its representatives. You can obtain copies of these forms from the information officer or online at the NLRB website.
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Confer with an information officer regarding the process. To ensure that your complaint falls within the coverage of the NLRB, you should discuss the facts leading up to the charge with the information officer. He or she can advise you on the NLRB's jurisdiction and help you file the proper forms to initiate a formal charge and begin the investigative process.
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Comply with the investigative process. Once a formal complaint of unfair labor practices has been made, the NLRB will conduct an investigation to determine if there is reasonable cause to believe that an unfair labor act occurred. Provide the investigative officer with any and all requested information and answer any questions that arise during the process. If the NLRB ultimately finds enough cause to believe that a violation has occurred, it will attempt to arrange a settlement among the parties. If settlement efforts fail, however, a formal complaint will be issued and the case will be heard before an NLRB administrative judge.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember that if your unfair labor practices charge is dismissed after the NLRB investigation, you can appeal the dismissal to the General Counsel's office in Washington, D.C.
