The Railway Labor Act (RLA) applies only to labor relations issues in the airline and railroad industries. The National Mediation Board (NMB) administers only certain aspects of the RLA regarding representation, mediation and arbitration. In short, the mission of the NMB is to minimize work stoppages by facilitating harmonious labor relations for airlines and railroads engaged in interstate commerce or travel by:

• Representation: administering a process whereby employees can pursue their rights to form unions, or not, for the purpose of bargaining collectively with management over wages, hours, benefits, and working conditions;
  
  
• Mediation: helping the parties (carrier and union) reach resolution of disputes arising out of the negotiation of new or revised collective bargaining agreements; and
  
  
• Arbitration: offering arbitration to the parties (a) to resolve negotiation disputes whenever agreement is not reached through the mediation process (interest arbitration) and (b) to resolve disputes over the interpretation or application of existing collective-bargaining agreements (grievance arbitration).

Unlike the Federal Labor Relations Act (FLRA) for federal government employees or the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) covering employees in other private industries, airline and railroad employees covered by the Railway Labor Act cannot file "unfair labor practice" charges with the National Mediation Board over employment or collective bargaining issues or to enforce rights and protections under the Railway Labor Act (RLA).

This does not mean employees do not have rights. It means that, depending on the nature of the complaint or problem, claims, charges or grievances may be pursued either (a) through the union if you are represented, (b) through company procedures if not represented, (c) through other government agencies, or (d) through the U.S. courts.

Regardless of whether your inquiry concerns matters under the jurisdiction of the NMB, the NMB Help Desk may point you in an appropriate direction.