What is an injunction in the context of labor relations?

An injunction, particularly in the context of labor relations, refers to a legal order issued by a court that requires an individual or entity to do, or refrain from doing, a specific action. This order can be employed to address various situations in labor disputes, such as stopping a strike, halting unfair labor practices, or enforcing certain terms of a labor agreement.

Injunctions serve as critical tools in labor relations because they can quickly address and resolve conflicts between employers and unions or between workers and management. They can help maintain order and prevent escalation of disputes, thereby protecting the interests of all parties involved.

In contrast, the other options represent distinct concepts in labor relations: a union's strike authorization typically pertains to the formal approval by union members to engage in strikes, pointing to collective action rather than legal intervention. A type of worker compensation claim involves the process by which employees seek reparations for work-related injuries, which is unrelated to the concept of injunctions. Lastly, a meeting between management and workers denotes communication and negotiation, which do not inherently involve court orders or legal mandates like an injunction does.