Know Your Rights
You have the legal right under section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act to join or support a union and to:
- Attend meetings to discuss joining a union.
- Read, distribute, and discuss union literature (as long as you do this in non-work area during non-work times, such as during breaks or lunch hours).
- Wear union buttons,T shirts, stickers, hats, or other items on the job.
- Sign a union card asking your employer to recognize and bargain with the union.
- Sign petitions or file grievances related to wages, hours, working condition, and other job issues.
- Ask other employees to support the union, to sign union cards or petitions, or to file grievances.
Protection from employer Action:
Under section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act, your employer cannot legally punish or discriminate against any worker because of union activity, For example, an employer cannot legally do the following:
- Threaten to or actually fire, lay off, discipline, harass, transfer, or reassign employees because they support the union.
- Flavor employees who don’t support the union over those who do by granting special promotions, job assignments, wages, hours, enforcement of rules, or any other working condition.
- Shut down the plant or work site ot take away any benefits or privileges employees already have in order to discourage union activity.
- Promise employees a pay increase, promotion, benefit, or special favor if they oppose the union.
Enforcing Your Rights:
- Some employers try to prevent the workers from joining a union. The best way to encourage your employer to recognize the union and negotiate a fair contract is to build strong union support at the work place.
- If your employer violates the law, the union can help you file “unfair labor practice” charges with the National Labor RelationBoard (NLRB). The Labor Board has the power to order an employer to stop interfering with employee rights, to provide back pay, and to reverse any action taken against workers for union activity.