Employees are free to organize and elect their exclusive representative
(union) without any interference, coercion, threats, or retaliation from
management.
- The Statute (5 U.S.C. 7102) states that each employee shall have the
right to form, join, or assist any labor organization, or to refrain
from any such activity, freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal,
and each employee shall be protected in the exercise of such right. Such
right includes the right:
- To act for a labor organization in the capacity of a
representative and the right, in that capacity to present the views
of the labor organization to heads of agencies and other officials
of the executive branch of the Government, the Congress, or other
appropriate authorities, and
- To engage in collective bargaining with respect to conditions of
employment through representatives chosen by employees.
- While all bargaining unit employees are entitled to representation
by their union, employees are not required to join it. An employee
“joins” the union by signing up on the appropriate form and paying dues
to the union.
- The union’s duty of fair representation means that the union must
represent and assist each bargaining unit employee, without
discrimination and regardless of whether he or she is a dues-paying
member.