Know Your Rights: Representation

Title 5 of the United States Code, Part III, Subpart F, Chapter 71, Subsection 7114 establishes the rights to representation in the federal sector labor organizations: “A labor organization which has been accorded exclusive recognition is the exclusive representative of the employees in the unit it represents and is entitled to act for, and negotiate collective bargaining agreements covering, all employees in the unit. An exclusive representative is responsible for representing the interests of all employees in the unit it represents without discrimination and without regard to labor organization membership.”

Why is this important? This language establishes both your right as a bargaining unit employee to be represented by the union designated as the exclusive representative in your workplace (regardless of whether or not you have made the decision to join the union), and it establishes the rights and responsibilities necessary for your local union representatives (i.e., your fellow employees) to represent your interests.

So remember, if you encounter a personnel policy or other conditions of employment that you believe unfairly affect you, reach out to your local union representatives. They’ve got your back!