What course of action allows employees to select their union representation?

The ability for employees to choose their union representation is fundamentally established through secret-ballot elections. This process is crucial as it provides a confidential method for employees to express their preferences regarding union representation without fear of intimidation or coercion. In a secret-ballot election, each employee has the opportunity to cast their vote privately, ensuring that their choice is based solely on their true feelings about union representation.

While collective bargaining agreements and petitions to management can play roles in labor relations, they do not directly facilitate the selection of union representation in the same definitive way as secret-ballot elections. Collective bargaining agreements establish the terms and conditions of employment once the union is recognized, and petitions might be used to express interest in forming or joining a union but do not guarantee a selection process. Thus, the secret-ballot mechanism is the most direct and recognized method for employees to select their union representation, encompassing the principles of democracy and free choice in the workplace.