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Title 29, LaborRelease 119-102

§171 Declaration of Purpose and Policy

Title 29 › CHAPTER 7 — LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS › SUBCHAPTER III — CONCILIATION OF LABOR DISPUTES; NATIONAL EMERGENCIES › § 171

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The United States wants workplace problems settled by talks and negotiated agreements between employers and worker representatives so that work stays peaceful and the public’s welfare, health, and safety are protected. The government must offer help like mediation and optional arbitration to help reach and keep deals about pay, hours, and working conditions, and to encourage resolving disputes by agreement or by methods already in a contract. The government must also help add contract rules for advance notice of changes, clear grievance procedures, and other steps to prevent future disputes.

Full Legal Text

Title 29, §171

Labor, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

It is the policy of the United States that—
(a)sound and stable industrial peace and the advancement of the general welfare, health, and safety of the Nation and of the best interests of employers and employees can most satisfactorily be secured by the settlement of issues between employers and employees through the processes of conference and collective bargaining between employers and the representatives of their employees;
(b)the settlement of issues between employers and employees through collective bargaining may be advanced by making available full and adequate governmental facilities for conciliation, mediation, and voluntary arbitration to aid and encourage employers and the representatives of their employees to reach and maintain agreements concerning rates of pay, hours, and working conditions, and to make all reasonable efforts to settle their differences by mutual agreement reached through conferences and collective bargaining or by such methods as may be provided for in any applicable agreement for the settlement of disputes; and
(c)certain controversies which arise between parties to collective-bargaining agreements may be avoided or minimized by making available full and adequate governmental facilities for furnishing assistance to employers and the representatives of their employees in formulating for inclusion within such agreements provision for adequate notice of any proposed changes in the terms of such agreements, for the final adjustment of grievances or questions regarding the application or interpretation of such agreements, and other provisions designed to prevent the subsequent arising of such controversies.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 11482 Ex. Ord. No. 11482, Sept. 22, 1969, 34 F.R. 14723, which related to the

Construction

Industry Collective Bargaining Commission, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12110, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1069, formerly set out as a note under section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees. Executive Order No. 11849 Ex. Ord. No. 11849, Apr. 1, 1975, 40 F.R. 14887, which related to the Collective Bargaining Committee in

Construction

, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 12110, Dec. 28, 1978, 44 F.R. 1069, formerly set out as a note under section 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

29 U.S.C. § 171

Title 29, Labor

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102