Workers form unions because an individual worker is powerless compared to an employer, who can set low wages and long working hours as long as it adheres to labor laws. At its most basic level, a strike occurs when all the workers in the union stop coming to work. With no workers, the business shuts down.

union shop

Early unions failed for a number of reasons, including internal tensions, inability to prevent violence, a societal fear of revolution and failure to win over the public and authorities.

By law, an employee or worker can bring a relevant person (‘companion’) with them to a disciplinary hearing….The right to be accompanied

• a work colleague.
• a workplace trade union representative who’s certified or trained in acting as a companion.
• an official employed by a trade union.

It is common practice for a disciplinary policy to state that a warning will remain active for a specified period, normally between 6 and 12 months, after which time it will be removed from the employee’s personnel file.

You have a right to be represented by your union fairly, in good faith, and without discrimination. Your union has the duty to represent all employees – whether members of the union or not-fairly, in good faith, and without discrimination.

Unions help protect employees from unjust dismissal through collective bargaining agreements (CBA). Because of this, most union employees cannot be fired without “just cause.” This is unlike many nonunion workers who are considered “at-will” employees and can be fired at any time for almost any reason.

Union contracts often provide for fair and flexible working hours, better pay for overtime and work on evenings and weekends, more paid holidays, paid family and medical leave, and employer help with child care and elder care.

“Under the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA), if 30% or more of the employees in a bargaining unit sign a Decertification (decert) Petition, the National Labor Relations Board will conduct a secret ballot election to determine if a majority of the employees wish to decertify the union and stop it from any further “ …

Regardless of where you live, the Supreme Court has ruled that you can resign union membership at any time. However, if you don’t work in one of the right to work states discussed above, unions can still force you to pay fees similar to union dues (often called “agency fees”), even if you are not a union member.

Employees who want to vote a union out must circulate a petition calling for a decertification election. A sample petition is available below. They should not seek help from their employer, because the union can then complain that an unfair labor practice has tainted the election.

Union members have: equal rights to participate in union activities. freedom of speech and assembly. voice in setting rates of dues, fees, and assessments. protection of the right to sue.