Legal Definitions - certification of bargaining agent

Certification of bargaining agent refers to the process of determining which labor union will represent a group of workers in negotiations with their employer. This determination is made by the National Labor Relations Board or a state agency.

For example, if a group of factory workers wants to form a union, they would hold a vote to determine which union they want to represent them. If the majority of workers vote for a specific union, that union would be certified as the bargaining agent for that group of workers.

This certification gives the union the legal authority to negotiate on behalf of the workers and to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the employer.