Which law gives employees the right to join trade unions?

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is the law that gives employees the right to join trade unions. Enacted in 1935, the NLRA was designed to protect the rights of employees in the private sector to organize and engage in collective bargaining through representatives of their choosing. It establishes protections for employees to join labor organizations without fear of discrimination or retaliation from their employers.

The NLRA also outlines the framework for labor relations, detailing the responsibilities of both employers and unions. This includes prohibitions against unfair labor practices that could interfere with employees' rights to associate freely. By ensuring these rights, the NLRA plays a crucial role in the balance of power between labor and management, allowing workers to negotiate terms of employment and work conditions collectively.

Other laws mentioned have different purposes: HIPAA focuses on the privacy and security of health information, FLSA sets regulations regarding wages and hours worked, and ERISA pertains to the regulation of retirement plans and employee benefits. None of these are related to the right of employees to join trade unions, which is specifically addressed by the NLRA.