Your Section 7 Rights Under the NLRA

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is a federal law that regulates private-sector workplaces. Section 7 of the NLRA guarantees employees “the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.”  

Under the NLRA, you have the right to do the following without fear of retaliation by your boss: 

• Attend meetings to discuss joining a union.  
• Read, distribute, and discuss union literature.  
• Wear union buttons, T-shirts, stickers, hats or other items on the job at most worksites.  
• Sign an “authorization card” asking your employer to recognize and bargain with the union.  
• Sign petitions related to wages, hours, working conditions and other job issues.  
• Ask other employees to support the union. families. We advocate for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions for all of our members.

Federal law protects workers’ right to form or join a union without interference, restraint or coercion from your boss. Remember, it is unlawful for management to “S.P.I.T.” on you:  

Surveil - spy on workers’ protected union organizing activities 

Promise - offer workers benefits or rewards in exchange for providing information, voting against the union or not engaging in union activity 

Interrogate - question workers about their organizing activity or their thoughts on the union 

Threaten - discourage workers from organizing by threatening cuts to benefits, wages, hours or other working conditions, or threatening layoffs or facility closure