A union is simply an employee organization—protected by law—where a group of workers joins together to improve and guarantee their wages, benefits and working conditions. A union also gives employees a way to achieve respect and fairness on the job and a stronger voice to impact employer decisions. Without a union, employers have 100% control.
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If a large majority of co-workers show support by signing cards (or a petition), a request can be made to the National Labor Relations Board to conduct a secret ballot election. The public sector uses a similar process. The election will officially determine whether or not a majority (50% plus one of those who vote) wants to have a union. Once the election is won, the law requires your employer to recognize your union and negotiate in good faith. There are other creative ways to put pressure on your employer to recognize your union. A government-supervised election is just one alternative.
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It is against the law for your employer to ask you about your union activity or to threaten, harass, fire, discipline or discriminate against you because of union activity. The National Labor Relations Act protects workers trying to form a union. When workers organize with OPEIU they can depend on support and back up if needed.
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The law gives you the right to talk about the union at work when other non-work related talk is allowed or during non-work times such as breaks, meal times or before or after work.
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Employers love to scare workers thinking of forming a union with strike talk. In reality, strikes are rare. OPEIU settles over 98% of its contracts without ever going on strike. Besides, there could only be a strike where you work if the vast majority voted to do so. OPEIU union leaders can’t “call a strike” nor can union members from other workplaces. Only the employees where you work could make that decision.
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Most employers, even good ones, feel threatened when they find out employees want to share some power and control. Most will try to convince you not to form a union by using a variety of tactics designed to create doubt. However, workers successfully form unions all the time. The key is to stay united and focus on the reasons you wanted a union in the first place.
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Local 23 is a nonprofit employee organization that operates solely from dues.
- No one pays dues until after the first contract is negotiated, voted on and approved by you. You get to see the results before paying any dues. Dues are 1.0% of monthly gross wages plus a monthly base fee of $13.50.
- There is no initiation fee or any other fee for newly organized groups coming into the union.
- The members of the union decide the dues structure and how dues are spent. Members review and approve an annual budget every year. Members elect trustees who review the union's financial records to ensure dues are spent according to the membership’s wishes. No dues are spent on political campaigns or initiatives. The Department of Labor requires unions to keep a strict record of expenditures. Virtually all dues go toward membership representation.
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