What is the purpose of a representation election?
The purpose of a representation election is to allow employees to determine via secret ballot which employee organization, if any, shall be certified to represent them in their employment relations with the employer.
How many votes are needed to unionize?
If a majority of workers wants to form a union, they can select a union in one of two ways: If at least 30% of workers sign cards or a petition saying they want a union, the NLRB will conduct an election.
Can I refuse union representation?
Unions do not always take every grievance that unionized employees want to pursue. If your union fails to properly represent your interests, you have the right to bring a complaint against your union, called a “Duty of Fair Representation Complaint”.
Who is considered a union representative?
A trade union representative (‘rep’) is a union member who represents and gives advice to colleagues when they have problems at work. Trade union reps are not paid but they do get paid time off to do their work as a rep.
How do employees unionize?
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) provides a process to allow your workplace to become a Union Workplace. This process culminates in an election that is legally binding upon your employer. A minimum of 30% of the effected bargaining unit employees have to show interest in forming a union at your facility.
How do I vote in a union?
When employees no longer want to be represented by a union or want to replace the union with a different one, they can vote to decertify the union. The process to decertify a union starts with filing an RD petition at the regional National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) office or electronically on the NLRB website.
What can I do if my union is not representing me?
Yes. Legally, the union has the same obligation to represent you fairly as it does to represent union members. You can ask the union to file a grievance if you are fired or disciplined, even if you are not a member.
What is union representation in the workplace?
A union representative, union steward, or shop steward is an employee of an organization or company who represents and defends the interests of their fellow employees as a labor union member and official.
How do union reps get paid?
When union reps are on official time, they receive their salary as though they were doing their regular duties. Under the Federal Service Labor Management Relations Statute (Statute) their union duties are government work. There are many detractors who believe union reps should not be paid.
Who is the referee in the union representation process?
The NLRB is the “referee” during the union representation process, and the filing of this petition is the first step in invoking the NLRB’s procedures. A petition can be filed at any time if there is no incumbent union and there has been no prior union election in the past year.
When does an employer file a union representation petition?
An employer may also file a petition when one or more individuals or labor organizations present a claim to be recognized as the exclusive employee bargaining agent. The NLRB is the “referee” during the union representation process, and the filing of this petition is the first step in invoking the NLRB’s procedures.
How does a union representative check union status?
The union representative may then offer to have the union’s majority status verified through a “card check,” which consists of nothing more than counting the number of authorization cards that have been signed by employees and verifying those employees’ employment status.
How often do Union officers have to be elected?
At least every 4 years in all intermediate bodies such as general committees, system boards, joint boards, joint councils, and conferences; and At least every 3 years in local unions. These periods are measured from the date of the last election.