| ORGANIZING:
What can you do if you
strive to follow the rules and yet your employer keeps changing
them or making new rules?
What can you do if you
aren't treated the same as another employee?
What can you do if you
are unjustly terminated or suspended?
What can you do if your
employer suddenly decides to lower your wages or benefits?
What can you do if your
employer suddenly changes your working conditions?
Union
workers have a contract outlining their wages, benefits and working
conditions. Union workers have representation. They also receive
higher wages & benefits.
How
is a union formed?
Your rights to organize are set forth in section
7 of the National Labor Relations Act:
"Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form,
join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through
representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted
activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual
aid or protection..."
You have the legal right to organize, join, and
support a union of your own choosing. This includes, but is not
limited to:
- filling out an authorization for representation
card
- asking others to fill out cards
- attending union meetings
- wearing union buttons
- passing out union literature
- talking about the union to other employees.
How is a union formed?
Your workplace can be organized only when a majority of the workers
there decide they want to belong to a union.
The union will provide you with authorization for representation
cards to sign. Your signed authorization cards let the union know
how many workers at your workplace want union representation and
assistance in negotiating a contract.
In some cases, when a clear majority of workers have signed authorization
cards, the employer agrees to recognize the union and negotiate
a contract.
In most cases, after a majority of workers have signed authorization
cards, the union files a petition for an election with the National
Labor Relations Board. The NLRB sets a date for an election and
conducts an impartial secret ballot vote to determine if a majority
of the workers desire union representation.
After winning the election, the union will begin negotiating with
the employer for a contract.
If you are interested in bringing Local 431
to your workplace...
Local 431 can assist you and your co-workers in improving your wages,
benefits, and working conditions through the collective bargaining
process. Most Local 431 contracts include:
- Better wages -- Reports have shown that union
workers generally make 35% more in wages and benefits than non-union
workers.
- Better benefits -- Many Local 431 contracts
provide affordable health insurance where the employer pays all,
or most, of the expense.
- A Pension Plan -- Many Local 431 contracts
provide for a 401k plan or pension plan to make your retirement
easier.
- Job Security -- Local 431 contracts contain
language to prevent employers from unjustly and arbitrarily terminating
or suspending you without having just cause for their action.
- Due Process -- Local 431 contracts contain
a formal grievance and arbitration procedure to help provide you
with due process. This procedure is used to settle violations
of your contract.
Print an Authorization Form Online
Developing Organizing Leads
If you know of a group of workers who are interested in bringing
a union to their workplace, please contact Jerry Messer at 1-800-292-7293
or e-mail: organize@ufcw431.com
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