Although every workplace is different and the needs of workers vary, there are 5 basic steps involved in protecting your livelihood on the job. Here's how it happens...Before going through the five steps listed below, quietly talk to a few of your co-workers who you think may be interested in organizing. The small group starts to privately discuss workplace issues, what is invoived in organizing a union, and making plans to contact Teamsters.
leaders are identified and an organizing committee representing all major departments in the workforce is established. Committee members must be prepared to work hard to educate themselves and there co-workers about the union and to warn co-workers about managements potential anti-union campaign. Also at this step basic info about the workplace must be gathered.
The committee develops a program of union demands (the improvements you are looking to achieve) and a strategy for the union election campaign.
Your co-workers are asked to join Teamsters and support the union program by signing authorization cards. The goal is to sign-up a sizable majority. This "card signing" should proceed quickly once begun and is necessary to hold a union election.
The signed cards are used (and required) to petition the state or NLRB to hold an election. it will take the labor board at least several weeks to determine who is eligible to vote and schedule the election.The union campaign must continue and intensify during the wait. If the union wins, the employer must recognize and bargain with the union. Winning a union election requires a strong, diverse organizing committee, a solid issues program and a plan to fight the employer's anti-union campaign.
The organizing campaign does not let up after an election victory. The real goal of the campaign is to get a union contract. Workers must be mobilized to support the union's contract demands (decided by you and your co-workers) and pressure the employer to meet those demands.