If you are new to labor unions, there are some terms that you may come across during your quest for information about unions.

Agency Shop Clause
A clause which requires an employee to pay the substantial equivalence of union dues in lieu of union membership.

Arbitration
A formal hearing process, similar to a trial, where a third party (the arbitrator) decides who should prevail in a dispute. The culmination of the grievance process. At airlines, arbitration cases are decided before a System Board of Adjustment, defined below.

Assessment
Monetary amount payable to the union which is imposed on employees at the discretion of the union when the union's funds drop below a certain amount. This amount is over and above any amount required to be paid by the employee for union dues.

Bylaw
The local labor union's set of rules. All members of the union are bound by these rules.

Collective Bargaining
The process of negotiating a contract between a company and a labor union.

Contract
The agreement encompassing wages, benefits, and working conditions, that a labor union has with a company by which all covered employees are bound. This typically includes clauses like: Super Seniority, Management Rights, Dues Check Off, and Union Shop.

Cooling Off Period
The 30-day period after the end of direct negotiations, mediation, and a proffer of arbitration from the NMB, before which either party is prohibited from engaging in self-help.

Decertification
The process of removing a union as a representative of a craft or class. There is no formal decertification process under the Railway Labor Act. The only way to decertify a union under the RLA is for the employees to use the procedures designed for other unions to challenge an incumbent union. Absent extraordinary circumstances, the NMB will not accept an application for another election for a period of two years from the date that the results of the election won by the incumbent union were certified. Decertification of unions through this process is very rare.

Dues
One of the costs each union member pays to be in the union. Dues are typically deducted from your paycheck to ensure payment. (See Dues Check Off)

Dues Check Off
A contract clause which enables the union to automatically receive your member dues through a paycheck deduction.

Fines
A monetary amount payable to the union which employees may incur as a result of being disciplined by the union. This amount is over and above any amount required to be paid by the employee for union dues.

Grievance
A formal protest over an interpretation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement or discharge or discipline of an employee.

Initiation Fees
A monetary amount employees are required to pay to the union before the employee will be considered by the union to be a member. This amount is over and above any monthly amount required to be paid by the employee for union dues. Almost all unions waive initiation fees during their initial drive to organize new employees.

Labor Union
An organization that provides services to its members in exchange for dues.

Lay Off
When a company is unable to compete and must reduce expenses, they may be forced to send some employees home. A lay off is usually considered "temporary" until the company is able to regain financial stability.

LM-2
A financial statement that labor unions are required to file annually with the U.S. Department of Labor. View a copy of the 2004 APWU LM-2.

Management Rights
Those aspects of an employer's operations which do not require discussion with the union, or rights reserved by management and not subject to collective bargaining, including the right to: (1) direct and control its work force; (2) determine the means, processes, materials, and schedules of production; (3) utilize fully its work force and machines; and (4) maintain employee discipline and production efficiency.

Mediation
The process that occurs when a third party (the mediator appointed by the National Mediation Board) is utilized in an attempt to bring the union and the carrier together voluntarily on a Collective Bargaining Agreement.

National Mediation Board (NMB)
The independent federal agency established to administer the RLA.

Penalties
Part of most union bylaws. This clause states that the union can put its members on trial for violating the union's rules. If found guilty, the member might have to pay a fine.

Railway Labor Act
The labor law that covers labor relations for airlines and railroads. The RLA is administered by a federal agency in Washington D.C. known as the National Mediation Board.

Self-Help
By a union, usually a strike; by a carrier, unilateral imposition of wages, benefits and work rules, or a lock out of all employees.

System Board of Adjustment
The formal process for hearing and resolving grievances. The collective bargaining agreement between the parties will provide the specifics for this process, however, there are usually two System Boards, a four-member Board which consists of two members chosen by the company and two members chosen by the Union; and a five-member Board which adds a neutral outside arbitrator jointly chosen by the Company and Union. The five-member Board becomes involved in the resolution of grievances only if the four-member Board cannot reach a majority decision to resolve the dispute.

Union Security or Union Shop
A clause in a contract that requires all employees to join the union and pay dues after a certain number of days of employment in order to keep their job, or allows the employee to assume dues objector status, and pay a substantial equivalent amount in "agency fees" to the union.