Q&A for How to Unionize Your Workplace

Under U.S. Labor Law, a workplace needs to have two or more employees. If a majority wants it, and the majority votes it in during an NLRB supervised election, the majority wins. For-profit or non-profit status of the organization does not matter. It only matters that you are an employee of that organization.

As a trade union member from the UK I am happy to answer this question! No workplace is to small to be part of a union, even if it's a one person operation. When you become part of a union, you are joining a fellowship of working men and women that may be spread across many different companies and locations, in many different situations. I would highly recommend joining a union to anyone, all you need to do is find the union that is applicable to your type of work in your area and contact them. It's really easy, and very worthwhile.

That depends on the business you work in. Find the type of union that fits your workplace, and their local office should provide you with cards.

There is a union for retail workers/cashiers: it's called the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Search the internet for locations or contacts near you.

Have a group of like-minded individuals come together. Any group of people with the same beliefs or feelings can be a caucus. Once several of you have gotten together and began talking, figuring out what your stances are on various points, you should put out a statement declaring who you are and why you formed in order to garner support for your caucus.

Two or more workers coming together. To get the union recognition, a majority must sign on or vote it in.

Union dues are not taken until a contract is negotiated, signed, and ratified by membership through a vote.

Yes, there are many. Depending on the organization you work for, you can reach out to the state's AFL-CIO to find a good fit for you and your co-workers.

Yes, based on the National Labor Relations Board, it takes a showing of interest of 30% of card signers to file a petition for an election.

You can usually still unionize. Right to work laws really only say that workers can't be forced to join a union or pay union dues, not that unions can't be formed. Check with local unions in your area to see if they can provide you with direction, and keep in mind all states have different laws, so this is not a blanket answer. You can also contact your local legal aid team, a non-profit that has lawyers/law students on staff to help answer legal questions for free or at a low cost.

No, not necessarily. "Unit determination" is the process of deciding which jobs and which locations will be part of the "bargaining unit". There are numerous rules that govern which portions of the company workforce will be in a bargaining unit. There can be several bargaining units at a single employer and there can be union and non-union shops in the same company. It is best to contact a union in your area to help you, not only with the process of bargaining unit determination, but also in unionizing and negotiating a contract.

There may be. Unions working in the personal care industry or related industries may be interested in funeral workers. I believe the Teamsters has organized a funeral home.

Yes, in many cases you can. This depends on state laws regarding public employee unions. Many public workers are in unions.

If you have not been contacted by a union steward or representative after a few months on the job, the chances are that there is no union at your workplace. Look for a union bulletin board, a union contract among information distributed to you, see if some employees are wearing clothing or buttons with a union symbol. Use caution when asking about a union--many employers will consider asking about a union as an indication that you will not be a good employee.

Not at the current moment. There are various groups of workers organizing at Amazon however. Warehouse Workers United is the main group.