AFSCME LOCAL 2728

Local 2728 Scholarship Essay

Sara Damiani

"How to Organize and Build a Union"

          In reality, almost every person who works for a living, works for someone else.  As a  individual, an employee is essentially powerless when it comes to getting recognized or trying to make a change within the workplace.  With that understanding, workers identify with each other, sharing work experiences and frustrations; forming the source for the creation of a labor union.

          In building a union, there are a few key steps.  The first step is to know your legal rights to form a union. The National Labor Relations Act gives workers the right to attend meetings, talk about, and distribute material about the union during non-work hours.  Workers are also able to ask their coworkers to support the union by signing cards or petitions.  Second, gather information about your workplace.  It is effective to find out what common issues your co-workers face and if they share a common interest in the union.  You need to find workers that are willing to act, and stick together to support one another.  Thirdly, a representative group, or organizing committee, must be created.  Leaders must be identified, and the committee formed should represent all the departments, and reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity in the workplace.  Often workers fear joining the committee because of internal obstacles, or fear of retaliation, so it is important to have leaders within the group who can determine the fears of their  coworker, and help them to overcome it.  The next step is for the committee to adopt a Issues Program which includes the improvements they are trying to achieve.  Also, strategies for the union election campaign are developed and the Issues Program is carried out through the campaign activates.  It is important that the issues presented are solid, and that there is a plan to fight the employer's anti-union campaign.  Next, the majority of the people sign up on Union Cards in order to support the union program.  These cards are required to petition the state or federal labor board to have an election which is the next step to make the union official.  This process may take a few weeks, where the committee continues to campaign and gain strength.  If the committee wins the election, the employer must recognize and bargain with the union, resulting in a written contract covering all aspects of employment for the workers.  To finalize the contract, workers must vote on it. Having strong enforcers of the contract and good followers is the key, the actual contract is only an enforcement tool.

          At the base of a well organized union is a group of people who are willing to act and stick together to support one another and their efforts as a whole.  By these co-workers going through the steps of knowing your rights, gathering information, organizing a committee, making the union official, and establishing a strong contract, a well organized union can be formed.  With this collective strength as a union, workers bring about the positive changes they seek, and keep themselves protected in the workplace.