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Title 39 — Postal ServiceRelease 119-73not60

§1209 Applicability of Federal Labor Laws

Title 39 › Part II— PERSONNEL › Chapter 12— EMPLOYEE-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS › § 1209

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Employee-management relations must follow subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 29 unless those rules conflict with this title. Chapter 11 of title 29 applies to labor organizations that have or seek recognition under section 1203 and to their officers and representatives, treated as if the Postal Service were an employer under section 402. Under section 438, with the Postal Service’s written concurrence, the Secretary of Labor may create or revoke simplified reporting forms after investigation, notice, and a hearing. Every Postal Service employee may freely form, join, assist, or refuse to join a labor organization and is protected from penalties for doing so.

Full Legal Text

Title 39, §1209

Postal Service — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Employee-management relations shall, to the extent not inconsistent with provisions of this title, be subject to the provisions of subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 29.
(b)The provisions of chapter 11 of title 29 shall be applicable to labor organizations that have or are seeking to attain recognition under section 1203 of this title, and to such organizations, officers, agents, shop stewards, other representatives, and members to the extent to which such provisions would be applicable if the Postal Service were an employer under section 402 of title 29. In addition to the authority conferred on him under section 438 of title 29, the Secretary of Labor shall have authority, by regulation issued with the written concurrence of the Postal Service, to prescribe simplified reports for any such labor organization. The Secretary of Labor may revoke such provision for simplified forms of any such labor organization if he determines, after such investigation as he deems proper and after due notice and opportunity for a hearing, that the purposes of this chapter and of chapter 11 of title 29 would be served thereby.
(c)Each employee of the Postal Service shall have the right, freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal, to form, join, and assist a labor organization or to refrain from any such activity, and each employee shall be protected in the exercise of this right.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

39 U.S.C. § 1209

Title 39 — Postal Service

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60