PHR Exam Prep™

Labor Relations: Understanding Unions and Union-Related Activities

HR professionals also need a solid understanding of unions, union structure, and union-related activities. To that end, this section will look at the following subjects:

• How unions are structured

• Union organizing (“the organizing process”)

• Union decertification and deauthorization

• Protected concerted activities

• Strikes

How Unions Are Structured

Unions are structured democratically, in that union officers are elected. They are also hierarchical.

HR professionals need to be familiar with the following four types of union entities:

Local Union

Local unions are largely responsible for the day-to-day administration of the labor agreement and relationship with union members. “Locals” generally ...