Federal Labor Relations Statutes: An Overview

"Since 1926, Congress has enacted three major laws that govern labor-management relations for
private sector and federal employees. An issue for Congress is the effect of these laws on
employers, workers, and the nation’s economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that,
nationwide, 9.2 million employees are represented by unions. In the 112th Congress alone, more
than 30 bills have been introduced to amend federal labor relations statutes. The proposals range
from making union recognition without a secret ballot election illegal to further modifying runoff
election procedures. This legislative activity, and the significant number of employees affected by
federal labor relations laws, illustrate the current relevance of labor relations issues to legislators
and their constituents..."