How to Form a Craft Union
Craft unions are organizations that unite workers within a craft or skill. Workers band together for the right to representation, collective bargaining, a better standard of living, paid holidays and vacations, extra pay for overtime, pensions, health and welfare protection and grievance and arbitration procedures. The reaction from people against the union often includes intimidation and opposition, but a successful outcome is worth the effort.
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Instructions
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Determine Union Interest
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Decide whether to proceed with the formation of a craft union based on workers' interest. Fifty percent of the employees must express an interest in joining a union.
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Form a small committee of trustworthy workers. Keep the news of the organization effort quiet so management does not know about it until the time is best for union organizers.
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3
Pick a craft union to join or form your own independent organization. Contact numerous unions for information on how to organize and ask for resources.
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Determine the jobs that have common responsibilities and work descriptions. Group them together to form a "bargaining unit."
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Talk to workers who are eligible to participate in the bargaining unit. Get at least 30 percent of the workers to sign and date cards and petitions stating interest in forming a craft union.
Road to Election
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Send the signed intent cards to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and they will authorize an election for union certification. Go to the NLRB website for contact information.
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Write and send a letter to top management asking them to recognize the craft labor union. This is not likely to happen without a hearing and election.
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Wait for the NLRB to contact company management with a hearing date regarding the official formation of the bargaining unit. The company and employees receive notification of the election date.
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Hold the election on the set day. Employees vote yes to form a union or no to vote against the craft union formation.
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Celebrate if the majority vote yes. Try again in a year if the vote doesn't pass.
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Tips & Warnings
Encourage workers to sign and date cards that show intent to join the union until you have at least 60 percent to ensure election success.
