How to Unionize Your Workplace in 8 Easy Steps

A comprehensive guide on organizing at your workplace

Through their collective strength, unions can improve wages, work hours, employee benefits, workplace health, and safety. If you think that you and your coworkers would benefit from a union, rest assured that you’re protected by the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, which means that your employer cannot penalize or fire you for trying to do this.[1] Still, there is a lot that can go into organizing, so we’ll break it down for you. Read on to learn everything you need to know about creating a union.

Things You Should Know

  • Your employer cannot penalize you for trying to unionize your workplace so long as you do it outside of work hours and off of company property.
  • Join a preexisting union, or start a brand-new union from scratch.
  • Hold an informal vote to unionize. If 30% or more agree, contact the NLRB to formalize a vote. Then, if 50% + 1 agree, your union is legal!
  • There are no minimum sizes for a union. If a company has 2 employees, those 2 employees can form a union.
Section 1 of 4:

Benefits of Unionization

  1. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 1
    Unions allow your colleagues to work together to earn fairer work conditions. A union’s biggest strength is collective bargaining. Whenever a worker is wronged, management makes a decision that pertains to something in your contract, or it’s time to negotiate over work conditions, everyone in the union stands as one to bargain together. This way, your employer doesn’t hold all the power.[2]
    • Unionized employees tend to be paid more, have better benefits, and more due process at work than their non-unionized counterparts.
    • Workers who unionize tend to have better insurance, more vacation time, better retirement security, fairer wages for women and minorities, and more paid leave for expecting parents and injured workers.
    • If an employer refuses to treat their employees fairly, a union can go on strike and refuse to work.[3]
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 4:

How to Unionize in the Workplace

  1. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 2
    1
    Approach the coworkers who will be most discrete and sympathetic. Make a list of your coworkers and rank them from “most likely to keep a lid on this and be on board with forming a union” to least likely. Talk to the folks at the top of that list privately to gauge their level of interest. If your boss hears about your plans before you've organized, they might try to stop you (by, for instance, finding a reason to fire you that's unrelated to unionization), so keeping things under wraps at the beginning is key.[4]
    • Unionizing while you’re clocked in at work is almost certainly going to be against your company’s policy, and it’s actually illegal in some states. To avoid getting in trouble, reach out to your coworkers when nobody is actually on the job.
    • If you start by approaching coworkers who you know aren’t fond of unions (or who tend to suck up to management), they may run off and tell your boss instead of joining your efforts.
    • Whenever possible, actually talk. Don’t text or email. That way, if anyone wants to turn you in, they won’t have evidence you’re trying to form a union.
  2. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 3
    2
    Avoid including anyone with hiring or firing power. Don’t consult anyone who has the ability to hire more employees, or fire other employees. Include only the coworkers who are under the same direct management as you. The roles can be different, but so long as you all work for the same upper management and none of you can hire or fire one another, anyone can join your union.[5]
    • For example, if a school teacher wants to unionize, they can choose to include other teachers, the janitors, and security staff. However, they shouldn’t ask the department heads, HR, or assistant principal to join.
  3. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 4
    3
    Meet as a group to discuss the next steps. If, after quietly talking to your coworkers, you find that enough of them are interested, hold a private meeting with your coworkers outside of work. At this meeting, discuss the particular workplace issues that you feel need addressing. Keep a record of the issues discussed at this meeting for future reference.[6]
    • Once everybody is on board with the idea of forming a union, you can begin the official process.
    • So long as 30% of you are interested in forming a union, you can host a legally-protected vote. If over 50% of you are interested, your union will be recognized once that vote takes place.
    • This is a good time to talk about who wants to be on the union’s central committee.
  4. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 5
    4
    Join a relevant preexisting union if one exists. You do not have to start a union from scratch if an organization already exists. For example, if you work at a school, you could reach out to the National Union of Teachers and tell them your school wants to join. If you work for a construction company, you could contact the Trades Union Congress. It’s easier to join a larger union than to start one from scratch, so see if a relevant union exists.[7]
    • A lot of union organizations are state-based, so if you look online and can’t find a union to join, try searching for your specific state.
    • Just call the union’s main phone number and explain the situation. Organizers will know what you need to do and they’ll help you along the way.
    • You’ll also have immediate access to the preexisting union’s legal counsel and organizational structure, which makes the early work a breeze.
  5. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 6
    5
    Contact a union organizer if you want to form a brand-new union. Starting a union by yourself can be a daunting task. That’s why it helps to have an experienced union organizer to do it for you. Reach out to the AFL-CIO (The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) and ask for free help from an organizer. They’ll send you an organizing vet to help organize a legal vote, set up a functional union structure, and answer your questions.[8]
  6. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 7
    6
    Hold a card check election to determine who’s joining the union. A card check is a simple election process where employees meet and either sign up for a union card, or do not decide to join. If you have enough cards at the end of the count (usually 50% + 1), you may have successfully formed a union depending on where you live. If not, you’ll need to hold an election with the corporate management.[9]
    • The states where card checks aren’t automatically acknowledged are mostly the same list as the “right to work” list.
    • Even if the card check doesn’t officially make you a union, it’s still important to perform this step. In most states, the cards themselves provide certain legal protections under the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board).[10]
  7. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 8
    7
    Hold the formal election to finalize your union. If the company doesn’t recognize your union immediately based on the card alone, contact the NLRB. The NLRB will help you organize a legally binding and formal vote. If the election is held and you get over 50% of the vote, your employer must recognize and then bargain with the union.[11]
    • The NLRB will take several weeks to schedule the election and determine voter eligibility. During this time, you can continue the union campaign to encourage more members to sign cards.
  8. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 9
    8
    Negotiate a contract with your employer. Once your union is formed, the first thing you need to do is negotiate a union contract with your employer. This document covers wages, dispute resolution, and other employment-related matters. This is the cornerstone of every union’s ability to mobilize and enforce demands, so take your time hashing this one out.[12]
    • This is where having a professional union organizer is really helpful. They’ll know what a fair offer from management looks like given the strength of your union.
    • There are typically legal restrictions on what can and cannot be included in a union contract, so reach out to a local labor attorney if you need help.
    9. Advertisement
Section 3 of 4:

How many people do you need to unionize?

  1. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 10
    1
    You only need 2 people to form a union. Any workforce can unionize so long as there is more than 1 employee. There are no size restrictions, so don’t let anyone talk you (or your coworkers) out of unionizing on the grounds that there are too few or too many of you.[13]
  2. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 11
    2
    A formal union needs 30% of employees to be on board for a vote. As soon as you reach or surpass 30% of your workforce who wants to unionize, contact the NLRB to organize a vote. The 30% figure is the threshold where your organization efforts become formally and legally protected.[14]
  3. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 12
    3
    You need over 50% of the employees to vote in favor of unionization. So long as 50% + 1 of workers elect to form a union, the union is legitimate. Your employer is now legally required to negotiate with your organization.[15]
    • Remember, if you’re in a right-to-work state like Florida or Indiana, your union cannot require your coworkers to join the union if they don’t want to—even if your union vote was over 50%.
    4. Advertisement
Section 4 of 4:

Tips for Unionizing Safely

  1. Image titled Unionize Your Workplace Step 13
    Look up your state laws before you do any organizing. In the U.S., many federal laws outline what unions are allowed to do, but there’s a lot of minutiae that can change things on the state level. Refer to your state laws regarding the right to form a union, to express views on unions, and to talk to coworkers about an interest in forming a union.[16]
    • You can consult a local labor attorney to find out what your rights are if you can’t find information online.
    • The key consideration is whether your state is “right-to-work” or not. Right-to-work states have laws that make it difficult for unions to negotiate or form in the first place.
    • Do not worry if your job is “at will.” You’re legally protected here—your job can’t fire you for trying to form a union.[17]

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can I have a union with 5 employees? What if there are only three that wan to join, and the place of work is a non-profit organization?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    How small is too small to join a union?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    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.
  • Question
    Where can I get union cards?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    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.
Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Set up a Fundraising Event
How to
Set up a Fundraising Event
Write a Functional Resume
How to
Write a Functional Resume
Be a Good Receptionist
How to
Be a Good Receptionist
Good Excuses to Miss Work on Short Notice20 Good Excuses to Miss Work on Short Notice
What to Say when Calling in Sick with DiarrheaHow to Call in Sick When You Have Diarrhea
Ask for a Day Off over Text
How to
Ask for a Day Off over Text
Respond when a Recruiter Reaches OutHow to Respond When a Recruiter Reaches Out: 3 Email Templates and Key Tips
Tell if a Coworker Is Flirting with YouFlirty or Friendly? 12 Signs Your Coworker Might Actually Be Flirting with You
Sell Your SkillsHow to Sell Your Skills: 10+ Great Ways to Put Yourself Out There
Excuses for Being Late to Work20+ Believable Excuses for When You’re Running Late
Ride an Elevator
How to
Ride an Elevator
Access Your Work Computer from Home
How to
Access Your Work Computer from Home
Hide That You're in Love With a Coworker
How to
Hide That You're in Love With a Coworker
What Basic Skills Do You Need to Be a Good Housekeeper15 Basic Skills You Need to Be a Good Housekeeper
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law
  2. ↑ https://www.dol.gov/general/workcenter/union-advantage
  3. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/strikes
  4. ↑ https://www.reprojobs.org/blog/unionfaq
  5. ↑ https://www.reprojobs.org/blog/unionfaq
  6. ↑ https://www.worker.gov/form-a-union/
  7. ↑ https://www.vox.com/2015/4/17/8443405/how-to-start-a-union
  8. ↑ https://aflcio.org/about-us
  9. ↑ https://calaborfed.org/union-organizing/majority_sign-up_or_card_check/
  1. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/employees/your-right-to-form-a-union
  2. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/employees/your-right-to-form-a-union
  3. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/employer-union-rights-and-obligations
  4. ↑ https://www.dol.gov/general/workcenter/unions-101
  5. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/employees/your-right-to-form-a-union
  6. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/pages/node-184/steps-to-forming-a-union-final-412.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/rights-we-protect/the-law/employees/your-rights-during-union-organizing
  8. ↑ https://www.odelllaw.com/fired-for-wanting-to-unionize/

About This Article

Eric McClure
Co-authored by:
Eric McClure
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Eric McClure. Eric McClure is an editing fellow at wikiHow where he has been editing, researching, and creating content since 2019. A former educator and poet, his work has appeared in Carcinogenic Poetry, Shot Glass Journal, Prairie Margins, and The Rusty Nail. His digital chapbook, The Internet, was also published in TL;DR Magazine. He was the winner of the Paul Carroll award for outstanding achievement in creative writing in 2014, and he was a featured reader at the Poetry Foundation’s Open Door Reading Series in 2015. Eric holds a BA in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and an MEd in secondary education from DePaul University. This article has been viewed 377,965 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 25
Updated: January 31, 2023
Views: 377,965
Categories: Work World
Article SummaryX

To unionize your workplace, start by contacting the local union you'd like to join for support. Then, speak to your fellow workers to gauge interest in unionizing, but avoid discussing this with management since they may oppose it. To strengthen your campaign, gather information about other workers in your industry who are unionized so you have a model for your own organization and contact supportive politicians. Finally, campaign to get at least 30 percent of the workforce to sign authorization cards, then petition the NLRB to hold an official union election. To find out more about negotiating contracts and combatting myths about unions, read on!

Did this summary help you?
If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Advertisement