Which federal agency is responsible for enforcing the National Labor Relations Act?

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is the federal agency specifically tasked with enforcing the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). This act, passed in 1935, was designed to protect the rights of employees and employers, to encourage collective bargaining, and to curtail certain private sector labor and management practices that can harm the general welfare of workers and the U.S. economy.

The NLRB conducts elections for labor union representation, investigates unfair labor practice cases, and ensures that workers can exercise their rights to join, form, or assist labor organizations without fear of discrimination or retaliation from their employers. The agency plays a critical role in maintaining balanced relationships between employers and employees, thus upholding the tenets of the NLRA.

In contrast, while the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) focuses on enforcing laws against employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, and genetic information, it does not have jurisdiction over labor relations as defined in the NLRA. The Department of Labor (DOL) oversees a broader range of labor-related issues, including wage and hour laws, but does not specifically enforce the NLRA. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) handles antitrust and consumer protection issues