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Organizing a union in our workplace is a fundamental right recognized in U.S. labor law. It’s even affirmed in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
That said, employers usually oppose working people’s efforts to organize because they would prefer to have all of the power in the employment relationship. Some employers regularly violate labor law when workers organize. Others will march right up to the edge of breaking the law to scare off organizing efforts. That’s why it’s important that you know your right to organize. Under the National Labor Relations Act, you have the right to: |
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- Join a union.
- Talk to your co-workers about joining a union.
- Pass out literature about joining a union (in non-work areas during non-work times).
- Sign up your co-workers on petitions in non-work areas and during non-work times.
- Join with your co-workers for the purpose of forming a union.
- Join with your co-workers for the purpose of improving working conditions in your place of employment.
- Interfere with, restrain or coerce you in such a way as to prevent you from exercising the rights listed above.
- Form a union that is financed or controlled by an employer, instead of by you and your co-workers.
- Discriminate against you or your co-workers in hiring and firing simply because you have chosen to join (or not to join) a union.
- Fire or retaliate against you because you have exercised any of your rights under the National Labor Relations Act, including your right to file complaints and testify against your employer if you believe he or she has violated your rights.
- Refuse to bargain collectively with you and your co-workers, if you choose to form a union.
