ORGANIZING
Union membership is about empowering people and changing lives
What is Organizing?
The common term for a group of workers looking to join a union is “Organizing.” Workers organize for various reasons, be it to improve their working conditions, increase their pay or benefits, and/or to create a better working environment. We encourage you to read more about us to see if joining our union is right for you and/or your coworkers.
Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), you are afforded specific rights. Section 7 of the NLRA legally entitles you to join or support a union. This includes attending meetings to discuss union membership, reading, distributing, and discussing union literature in non-work areas during non-work times such as breaks or lunch hours, and wearing union-related items like buttons, t-shirts, stickers, hats, or other apparel while on the job. Additionally, you have the right to sign cards asking your employer to recognize and bargain with the union, as well as to sign petitions or file grievances concerning wages, hours, working conditions, or other job-related issues. You can also encourage other employees to support the union, sign union cards or petitions, or file grievances.
After the union’s election victory is officially certified by the National Labor Relations Board, your employer is legally required to negotiate in “good faith” with the union on a written contract covering wages, hours, and other working conditions.
Under Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act, your employer cannot legally punish or discriminate against any worker because of union activity. For instance, your employer is prohibited from threatening to or actually firing, laying off, disciplining, harassing, transferring, or reassigning employees due to their support of the union. Additionally, your employer cannot favor employees who don’t support the union over those who do in terms of promotions, job assignments, wages, hours, enforcement of rules, or any other working conditions. Moreover, employers are not allowed to shut down the work site or take away any benefits or privileges employees already enjoy to discourage union activity. Finally, promising employees a pay increase, promotion, benefit, or special favor if they oppose the union is also illegal.
In most situations, the employees prove majority support through a secret-ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.
Are you currently working in the industry and want more information on how to join Local 636?
