ABA Family Legal Guide

Law and the Workplace

On the Job

Unions in the Workplace

What kinds of employees are covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)?

The NLRA covers private employers engaged in interstate commerce, but excludes railroad, airline, and public employers. (For more information, see "Federal Laws Regulating the Workplace" on above.)

However, even if you work for a covered employer, you may not be protected. Certain categories of workers fall outside of the statute: domestic employees of a family, farmworkers, persons employed by a parent or a spouse, independent contractors, supervisors, and managers.