Under the Railway Labor Act, the NMB is responsible for effectuating employee rights of self-organization where a representation dispute exists.

The NMB representation process ensures that potentially disruptive disputes over who represents employees for collective bargaining purposes are resolved peacefully.

Peaceful resolution of representation disputes is crucial to the airline and railroad industries because of the central role they play in the U.S. transportation system.

NMB's determination of collective bargaining representation enhances the stability of the railroad and airline industries' collective bargaining process.

The primary responsibilities of the NMB regarding representation are as follows:

I.	Initial investigation of representation applications
II.	Determining and certifying representatives of employees
III.	Ensuring that the process occurs without interference, influence or coercion.