Final answer:
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) oversees labor unions and handles disputes between management and labor, while the National War Labor Board (NWLB) has historically arbitrated during wartime. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) investigates discrimination related to labor. Significant disputes may invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, which provides mechanisms to prevent work stoppages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The agency that oversees labor unions and investigates disputes between management and labor is primarily the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB is responsible for enforcing federal labor laws, particularly those related to the rights of employees to organize and to determine whether to have unions as their bargaining representative. The NLRB also establishes procedures for establishing a union that firms must follow.
Additionally, the National War Labor Board (NWLB) has historically played a role in arbitrating disagreements between labor and management, especially during periods of wartime when maintaining production levels was critical. Another aspect of labor relations involves the protection of workers' rights against discrimination, which is overseen by separate entities such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
In cases of serious labor disputes, federal intervention can occur under the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows a court to impose an 80-day cooling-off period. This law was named as possible recourse during the 2015 work stoppage on the western coast of the United States, when new technologies and labor practices were being contested by unions.