Title 45, RailroadsRelease 119-102
§151a General Purposes
Title 45 › CHAPTER 8 — RAILWAY LABOR › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 151a
Summary
Sets five main goals to keep commerce and carriers running without interruption. It protects workers’ right to join labor groups, keeps carriers and employees free and independent when they organize, and requires quick, orderly settlement of disputes about pay, rules, working conditions, or complaints.
Full Legal Text
Title 45, §151a
Railroads, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The purposes of the chapter are: (1) To avoid any interruption to commerce or to the operation of any carrier engaged therein; (2) to forbid any limitation upon freedom of association among employees or any denial, as a condition of employment or otherwise, of the right of employees to join a labor organization; (3) to provide for the complete independence of carriers and of employees in the matter of self-organization to carry out the purposes of this chapter; (4) to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of all disputes concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions; (5) to provide for the prompt and orderly settlement of all disputes growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application of agreements covering rates of pay, rules, or working conditions.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification Section is comprised of the first sentence of section 2 of act
May 20, 1926, as added in the general amendment of section 2 by act
June 21, 1934. The remainder of section 2 of act
May 20, 1926, is classified to section 152 of this title.
Amendments
1934—Act
June 21, 1934, amended section 2 of act
May 20, 1926, generally, adding the text of this section.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
45 U.S.C. § 151a
Title 45, Railroads
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102