What is the term for the process whereby employees remove a union's right to represent them?

The process where employees remove a union's right to represent them is known as union decertification. This legal procedure occurs when workers decide that they no longer want the union to serve as their collective bargaining representative. To initiate decertification, a sufficient number of employees must demonstrate their desire to sever ties with the union, often by signing a petition or by voting in a decertification election overseen by a labor relations board.

Understanding this concept is crucial because it highlights the dynamic nature of labor relations and the right of employees to choose their representation. Unlike collective bargaining, which involves negotiations between the union and employer to establish terms of employment, decertification signifies a withdrawal of support for the union. Workforce reduction refers to strategies employed by employers to cut down on the number of employees, and union dissolution implies a broader context that does not specifically focus on the employees' choice to revoke the union's representation.