Final answer:
Refusing to bargain with a legally recognized union is considered an unfair labor practice. Employers are required under the National Labor Relations Act to engage in good faith negotiations over employment terms with the representative union.
Step-by-step explanation:
Refusing to bargain with a legally recognized union would be considered an unfair labor practice (ULP).
Unfair labor practices are actions by employers or unions that violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). One key component of the NLRA is the obligation for employers to bargain in good faith with the union that represents their employees. This includes discussing wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. Employers commit an unfair labor practice if they refuse to negotiate or engage in conduct that undermines the collective bargaining process.
Actions like conducting performance appraisals, terminating an employee for just cause, or filing charges against the union for actual misconduct, do not constitute unfair labor practices as long as they are carried out in accordance with the law and the collective bargaining agreement.