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AFL-CIO: A labor federation created by a merger between the AFL (American Federation of Labor) and the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organization) in 1955. Many major unions belong to the AFL-CIO. Though the AFL-CIO is based in Washington, DC, there are also bodies at the state (often called the "State Fed") and local (referred to as "Labor Councils") levels.

APPRENTICE WORKER: Serving a special training period in preparation for admission to full status as a skilled tradesman.

ARBITRATION: Where it is available, a method of settling a labor-management dispute by having an impartial third party hold a formal hearing, take testimony, and render a decision. The decision is usually binding upon the parties.

ATTRITION: Reduction in the labor force of a company through natural causes such as voluntary quits, retirement, or death as opposed to layoffs.

AUTHORIZATION CARD: A form voluntarily signed by an employee whereby the employee shows they support union representation. Only the National Labor Relations Board and the union itself ever see who has signed a card. Some cards will also state that the employee desires an election to be held to determine whether or not the union has the full support of the majority of the employees in the bargaining unit.

AWARD: The decision of an arbitrator in a dispute. The arbitrator's award is based upon the evidence presented, the wording in the collective bargaining agreement and the arguments of both parties. In labor arbitration, the arbitrator's reasons are generally expressed in the form of a written opinion, which accompanies the award.

BACKPAY: Wages due for past services, often the difference between money already received and a higher amount resulting from a change in wage rates. The term can also mean wages owed because some provision of the contract was violated.

BARGAINING AGENT: A union certified by a government agency, such as the National Labor Relations Board, or recognized voluntarily by the employer as the exclusive representative of all employees in the bargaining unit for purposes of collective bargaining.

BARGAINING RIGHTS: The rights outlined in Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act. They include rights of workers to negotiate the terms and conditions of employment through chosen representatives. The bargaining agent is designated by a majority of the workers in a bargaining unit.

BARGAINING UNIT: A group of employees in a given workplace who have a sufficient similarity of interest to constitute a unit for the purpose of bargaining collectively with their employer. A bargaining unit is usually defined by the National Labor Relations Board, or similar federal, state, or local agency.

BASE RATE: The straight time rate of pay, excluding premiums and incentive bonuses.

BOYCOTT: A concerted refusal to work for, purchase from, or handle the products of an employer. Where the action is directed against the employer directly involved in the labor dispute, it is termed a primary boycott. In a secondary boycott, the action is directed against a neutral employer in an attempt to get him/her to stop doing business with the company with which the union is having a dispute. Secondary boycotts are illegal under the Taft Hartley Act.

BUMPING: A contractual right whereby employees scheduled for layoff are permitted to displace less senior employees in other jobs for which they are qualified.

CALL-IN-PAY: Compensation to workers who report for work and, for a variety of reasons, the employer decides to send back home. Examples of call in pay include: "show up pay", when a worker is called into work by error for overtime work and is sent back home; or, wages paid when the worker is required to report and there is insufficient work for a full day.

CANVASS: A method of talking individually to every member of a bargaining unit to either convey information, gather information on a survey, or plan for united action.

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE MEETING: A term for meetings of workers called by management and held on company time and property. Usually, the purpose of these meetings is to try to persuade workers to vote against the Union.

CARD CHECK: Procedure whereby signed authorization cards are checked against a list of employees in a prospective bargaining unit to determine if the union has majority status. The employer may recognize the Union on the basis of this card check without the necessity of a formal election. Often conducted by an outside party (e.g. a respected member of the community).

CEASE AND DESIST ORDER: An order to stop an action, to not repeat the action, and to take action to undo the wrong. A cease and desist order issued by the National Labor Relations Board is a final order in an unfair labor practice case. It requires the guilty party to stop any conduct found to be in violation of the law and to take positive action to remedy the situation.

CERTIFICATION: Official recognition by a labor relations board that an employee organization is the exclusive representative for all the employees in an appropriate bargaining unit for the purpose of collective bargaining.

CERTIFIED UNION: A union designated by federal or state labor relations boards as the exclusive bargaining agent of a group of workers.

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