Be Informed, FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You select someone else to speak for you when it comes to compensation, benefits, and conditions of employment.
It changes the employment relationship from Employer/Employee to Employer/Union/Employee, which can slow down changes or decisions.
All employees – even if they didn’t vote for the union – will be bound by the contract that the employer and the union agree upon.
Union members may be legally required to follow the Union’s Constitution and Bylaws.

2. What are the stages of a union organizing campaign?

Card Signing: Union must get 30% of employees to sign a card to hold an election.
Campaign: Union/company attempt to convince employees of the pros/cons of unions.
Election: 50% + 1 vote of those that vote determine the outcome of the election.
Negotiations: If the union is elected, then the union & company must negotiate in good faith. There is no timetable in this process, it could take months or years.

3. How does an election work?

All eligible employees may vote.
The election is determined by 50% + 1 vote of those who show up to vote. EXAMPLE: If there are 20 employees eligible to vote and only 3 employees show up to vote, then the election is determined by 3 votes. If there are 3 “Yes” votes, then the union is elected, and all 20 employees will now be represented by the union.

4. If the union wins the election, am I represented by the union even if I did not sign a card or vote? What about if I do not join the union?

Yes, all eligible employees are represented by the union no matter whether they signed a card or not, whether they voted, and/or whether they want to join the union.

5. Does the Company have to sign a union contract if a union has been elected to represent its employees?

No, the only requirement of the Company is that they must negotiate in good faith.
The Company does not have to agree to any union demands.

6. Can the union make the Company get rid of certain supervisors?

No, the union has no right to tell the Company how to run its business or who to hire or fire as it relates to its managers and supervisors.
The Company does not even have to discuss this with the union.

7. If we don’t like the union, can’t we just vote it out?

Not for at least a year.
If there is a CBA agreement put in place, then you could not attempt to vote them out for a minimum of three years or the life of that contract.
In reality, once a union is voted in, it could be more four years before you can even try to vote them out.

8. Does it cost money to belong to a union? How much?

Yes, unions can charge their members’ dues.
Dues can be increased at any time by the union.
The union can also charge initiation fees and collect special contributions or assessments such as strike funds, building funds, and/or other projects that are in the union’s interest.

9. If there is a union, could there be a strike?

10. If I sign a union card, do I have to vote for the union?

No, even if you signed a union card you have the right to vote for or against the union if there is a union election.

11. Do I have to vote in a union election?

No, you do not have to vote if there is a union election.
However, we encourage all eligible employees to vote in any union election.
If the union wins the election, you will be represented by this union whether you voted or not.
As previously stated, the election is determined by a majority of those who show up to vote, not by the majority of those that are eligible to vote.