Oakland Tribune staff writer Harry Harris, right, who has covered the Oakland, Calif. police beat the past 32 years, holds up his Guild authorization at a card-signing luncheon, Wednesday, April 2, 2008 at Francesco's restaurant in Oakland.
(D. Ross Cameron, BANG-East Bay)

WHY DO I NEED A UNION?

Without a union, an employer can unilaterally change its employees' pay, sick leave or vacation accrual, or medical insurance benefits, or even terminate an employee without cause.

So long as there is no violation of law, an employer can change virtually any pay level, benefit or working condition of its employees – or even dismiss them – without consulting with them.

But in a unionized workplace, management is legally obligated to bargain with the employees' union over working conditions and levels of pay and benefits and may not discipline employees arbitrarily and without due process. Many workers organize unions to gain some control over their work lives, where many of them spend half or even more of their waking hours. Often, these employees are seeking some way to ensure fairness and dignity on the job. They often find that a great tool for obtaining these goals is a good union contract.

A union contract is a legally binding document – signed by both management and the employees' union – that spells out an employee's rights and benefits, as well as a process for addressing employee grievances. On average, union workers’ wages are 30 percent higher than their nonunion counterparts. While only 14 percent of nonunion workers have guaranteed pensions, fully 68 percent of union workers do. More than 97 percent of union workers have jobs that provide health insurance benefits, but only 85 percent of nonunion workers do. Unions help employers create a more stable, productive workforce – where workers have a say in improving their jobs.

MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS OF FULL-TIME
WAGE AND SALARY WORKERS, 2007

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Union Members in 2007," January 2008.
Prepared by the AFL-CIO.

How can I form a union where I work?

One of the most important principles to understand when organizing a viable Guild unit is that the employees must want the union. The union is not an outside group – it is an organization of employees committed to bettering their working lives and those of their colleagues.

Another important principle to remember is that organizing a union in your workplace is a legitimate and legally protected activity under federal law. (See “Your Right to Form a Union”)

To achieve recognition of the employee's union, the employees must demonstrate to management that a majority – 50% plus one – of the employees has authorized the union to represent them.

Demonstrating this majority can be done in several ways and determining who should be covered by the union in what is called a bargaining unit, requires some careful research and consideration.

Because of these technical issues, as well as the fact that many employers often fight to avoid having their employees unionize, it is advisable that you contact us before you begin trying to organize a union in your workplace.

What types of workers are forming a union today?

A wider range of people than ever before, including many women and immigrants, are joining unions— security officers, doctors and nurses, poultry workers and graduate employees, journalists and web designers, home health care aides and wireless communications workers, auto parts workers and engineers, to name a few.

What have unions accomplished for all workers?

Unions have made life better for all working Americans by passing laws ending child labor, establishing the eight-hour work day, protecting workers’ safety and health and helping create Social Security, unemployment insurance and the minimum wage, for example. The Labor Movement is continuing the fight today to improve life for all working families in America.

What challenges do workers face today when they want to form a union?

Today, millions of workers want to join unions. Wise employers understand that when workers form unions, their companies also benefit. But the law is so weak that most employers to fight workers’ efforts to come together by intimidating, harassing and threatening them. In response, workers and their unions build coalitions with community groups, clergy and politicians to help them exercise their freedom and right to form a Union.