Find Collective Bargaining Resources at the WORK Center

In recent weeks, we’ve seen real-life examples of how collective bargaining helps build an economy that works for all. When workers know their rights and have a seat at the table, it raises the standard for everyone. That relationship is reflected in federal labor law: both the National Labor Relations Act and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act set forth that the “national policy” of the United States is to protect workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively over their wages and working conditions.

A good job means having a safe workplace, where workers are treated fairly and have the right to speak up without fear of retaliation. While the Department of Labor enforces the laws designed to uphold safe and healthy working conditions and fair wages in the workplace, among other core worker protections, we rely on workers’ reports to enforce those law effectively.

We also know that unions empower workers to report violations of the law, which is a key complement to the department’s mission. That’s why we developed the Worker Organizing Resource and Knowledge Center, or the WORK Center. Launched just over 1 year ago, the WORK Center provides workers, employers, and the public with a one-stop online shop for resources on labor union organizing and collective bargaining.

The vision for the WORK Center grew from the Biden-Harris administration’s Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment. The task force recognized the gap between historically high worker interest in labor unions and collective bargaining and their lack of knowledge on how to organize a union. In response, the department developed a centralized resource to narrow that gap while benefiting both workers and employers.

Our redesigned WORK Center website has a fresh new look and features that make it easier for users to navigate and find information, such as:

• A new and easy-to-remember URL: www.WORKCenter.gov 

• The updated Know Your Rights Toolkit is an essential primer for workers interested in learning the general steps to forming a union and their right to organize without retaliation.

• Easily sharable charts and graphics that illustrate the impact labor unions have on key measures of worker well-being, such as higher wages and access to paid leave.

• The Resource Library now features a tool that allows users to filter by agency or topics, including the union advantage, wages and pay equity, apprenticeships, voluntary recognition and young workers.

• Mobile device compatibility formats the site for smaller screens, which means a better experience for those on mobile phones.

• Drop-down menus and a new search function enable users to navigate and locate information easier than before.

We encourage you to visit www.WORKCenter.gov to check out these new features. Let us know how the website has been useful – as well as your ideas for further improvements – by emailing WORKCenter@dol.gov.

We’d also love to hear how the union advantage has impacted your life, and you can easily share your story at WORKCenter.gov/share-your-story.

Raj Nayak is the assistant secretary for policy. Jeffrey Freund is the director of the Office of Labor-Management Standards.