The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

The National Labor Relations Act — also called the Wagner Act — guarantees most private-sector workers the right to band together to improve their working lives. It protects forming, joining, or supporting a union, bargaining collectively through representatives, and going on strike.

One of its most underappreciated protections doesn’t require a union at all: “concerted activity.” When two or more employees act together about pay, hours, or conditions — or even one employee acts on behalf of others — that activity is protected. Discussing your wages with coworkers, for example, is generally protected, and policies that forbid it can be unlawful.

The Act also defines “unfair labor practices” — things employers cannot do (like firing organizers or threatening workers who unionize) and things unions cannot do. Disputes are handled by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which investigates charges and runs union elections.

There are limits: the NLRA generally doesn’t cover government employees, agricultural and domestic workers, or independent contractors, who may be governed by other laws instead.