Our nursing colleagues have asked about the rules around unionizing – what we are allowed to do or talk about. UNA-AFSCME is here to protect your rights at work – you would never be asked to do anything that could jeopardize your job. There are federal rules in place, through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), that protect your right to unionize.
The more you know, the more power you have.
The National Labor Relations Board states that you have the right to assemble,
form or join a union.
You have the right to organize a union
“You have the right to organize a union to negotiate with your employer over your terms and conditions of employment. This includes your right to distribute union literature, wear union buttons, t-shirts, or other insignia, solicit co-workers to sign union authorization cards, and discuss the union with co-workers.” – NLRB
You can’t be punished for union activity
“Supervisors and managers cannot spy on you (or make it appear that they are doing do), coercively question you, threaten you or bribe you regarding your union activity or the union activities of your co-workers. You can’t be fired, disciplined, demoted, or penalized in any way for engaging in these activities.” – NLRB
You can talk to co-workers
“Restrictions on your efforts to communicate with co-workers cannot be discriminatory. For example, your employer cannot prohibit you from talking about the union during working time if it permits you to talk about other non-work-related matters during working time.” – NLRB
Find out more about your rights on the NLRB website.
Click here to fill out our survey – Tell us WHY you’re interested in unionizing.
Filling out the survey is not agreeing to anything.
The survey helps inform when we are ready to take the next step in organizing our union.
How can we gain union representation?
Unions are won through simple majority elections that are run by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Here are the steps to unionizing:
Step #1: Build Support
The first step is to talk to our coworkers, build support for creating a union, and strengthen the connections that will help move this process forward. **We are currently on this step!**
In order to determine when to move forward with collecting signed authorization/membership cards, we need our nursing colleagues to fill out this survey so that we can gauge interest and awareness among the nurses.
Step #2: We Sign Authorization/Membership Cards
In order to authorize the NLRB to hold the election, we have to demonstrate a “showing of interest” by signing authorization/membership cards.
Step #3: The NLRB Runs an Election
Once the authorization/membership cards are submitted to the NLRB, they will set up and run an election for us to vote on whether to approve or disapprove the creation of a union. Our votes will be confidential.
Step #4: Our Elected Bargaining Team Begins Negotiating Our New Contract
Once we’ve won our election, our union is formed. We will then elect a bargaining team from amongst our co-workers, who, with guidance from AFSCME Council 8 professional staff, will begin negotiating a new contract on behalf of all NCH nurses.
Step #5: Any New Union Contract Must be Approved by NCH Nurses
Once a tentative agreement has been reached by our bargaining team and NCH management, we must vote to approve the contract. Once we approve the contract, our union benefits will go into full force and effect. Unions are a democracy – nothing happens unless the majority of you approve.
Note: Dues are $28 or less per pay period and are not collected until completion of step #5 when we have a legally-binding contract.
