Union campaigns can be initiated by an employee or by a union organizer. Unions sometimes target specific industries or companies. The logic is that if a union is successful at targeting a portion of an industry or one company, then more employees may be willing to unionize. When an employee approaches a union, the union usually will look at what size the employee population is, how much it will cost to unionize, and whether the complaints made by the employee are shared by other employees before the union decides to approach the company. Several steps may occur when unionization takes place.
1. The union and employees will make contact to see what the possibility of unionizing is. This contact can take place by having group meetings outside the place of employment, through individual meetings, and by mailing materials to employees’ homes. The main purpose of this initial contact is for union officials to gather information on the employees’ grievances, needs, and concerns and to seek the employer’s financial information, policies, and practices. In addition to obtaining this information, this is the union’s first opportunity to win employee support and to build a case against the employer.
2. Union officials and the employees schedule an initial meeting. This meeting is the union’s opportunity to gauge how much employee support it has and to explain how the union can help employees. It also gives the union an opportunity to see which employees can be counted on to provide the leadership that will be needed during the union campaign.
3. The union seeks employee support by forming an employee committee to gain additional support. Another method of gaining support is by handbilling whereby union organizers distribute literature to employees. The handbills discuss the reasons to join the union. Such handbills are usually distributed to employees as they leave work, or the handbills are mailed to their homes. It is extremely important for the union to gain momentum at this point. For an election to occur, the union will need 30% of the employees to sign authorization cards that indicate their willingness to be represented by a union.
Please Note: This material is provided as general information and is not a substitute for legal or other professional advice. Contact the Knowledge Center for more information.
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