Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board – Harrisburg, PA

Fostering Fair Labor Practices

Board Overview

The Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB), headquartered in the Labor and Industry Building in Harrisburg, is the state agency dedicated to administering and enforcing the Commonwealth’s labor laws. Functioning under the Department of Labor and Industry, the Board serves as an impartial adjudicator in labor-management disputes. Its primary role is to protect the rights of public and private sector employees to organize and bargain collectively, while also ensuring that employers and unions comply with fair labor standards. The PLRB plays a critical role in maintaining industrial peace and stability across Pennsylvania’s workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Representation Elections: Conducting secret ballot elections to determine union representation for employee groups.
• Unfair Labor Practices: Investigating and ruling on charges of unfair practices filed by employees, unions, or employers.
• Unit Clarification: Determining the appropriateness of collective bargaining units and employee classifications.
• Mediation Support: Facilitating the resolution of disputes to prevent work stoppages.
• Fact-Finding: Appointing fact-finders in specific public sector impasses to help resolve contract negotiations.

Location and Procedures

The Board’s offices are located at 651 Boas Street, within the Labor and Industry Building near the Capitol Complex. Access to the building requires passing through security screening and presenting a valid government-issued ID. While the Board holds hearings and meetings here, many of its functions, such as filing petitions or checking case status, can be initiated online or via mail. Parties involved in labor disputes should consult legal counsel or the Board’s specific filing guidelines before visiting in person.