Labor Reform Act of 1977

Overview

• amended the National Labor Relations Act to increase the size of the National Labor Relations Board to seven members and the terms of Board members to seven years.
• directed the Board to issue rules to protect specified rights of employee and labor organizations, facilitate the resolution voter eligibility disputes, and govern elections in cases in which an appeal had not been decided before the date of election.
• created faster elections where a majority of members of a bargaining unit sought recognition of a union or de-certification of an existing union.
• specified damages where there was an unlawful refusal to bargain prior to entry into a first bargaining contract.
• provided for expedited consideration and relief from certain alleged unfair labor practices which resulted in a deprivation of employment.
• denied, for up to three years public contracts to persons willfully violating final orders regarding unfair labor practices.