Every worker should have a voice on the job. Join your coworkers and nearly 50,000 members of UFCW 3000 to help build a movement that fights for economic, political, and social justice in our workplaces and in our communities.
Forming a Union in your Workplace
It makes a difference to have a union. UFCW 3000 members, alongside union staff, negotiate with employers for better wages, benefits, and working conditions. Together, we win contracts that guarantee and improve income and benefits. Through negotiations and standing together in a union, members earn the respect of their employers and gain a greater voice at work.
A track record of success. UFCW 3000 has a strong record of organizing thousands of workers- more than over 10,000 workers have joined our union in the last 10 years. To learn more about organizing a union at your workplace, read through the questions and answers below. These are questions that typically come up when people are thinking about organizing a union.
Why do workers organize a union?
The reasons vary from person to person, but the most common reason is a basic desire to get a decent wage, health and retirement benefits, negotiating power, and fair treatment at work. Everyone wants more security in their lives. A job in a union workplace can help.
How do workers unionize?
Workers can unionize in two basic ways.
The first and most common way in the United States is when a majority of you and your co-workers sign union authorization cards at ufcw3000.org/organize and then vote in a secret ballot election to determine if a majority of workers are in favor of forming a union. If the vote is successful, your workplace union is recognized!
Another quick and fair method is a "card check." This is when a union is recognized immediately after a majority of workers sign authorization cards supporting a union. Many employers will oppose this method because it is easier for workers.
Are there protections for workers who want a union?
Yes. It is illegal for management to question anyone about union activity or to threaten, harass, or discriminate against anyone because of union organizing. Workers attempting to form a union have legal rights and protections under a law called the National Labor Relations Act.
Here are a few examples of your protections:
Your employer cannot discriminate or threaten to fire, lay off, discipline, harass, transfer, or reassign employees because they support a union.
Your employer cannot favor employees who don't support a union over those who do in promotions, job assignments, wages, hours, enforcement of rules, or any other working condition.
Your employer cannot shut down the work site or take away any benefits or privileges employees already enjoy in order to discourage union activity.
If your employer violates the law, your union can help you file "Unfair Labor Practice" charges with the US Government through the National Labor Relations Board. They have the power to order an employer to stop interfering with employees' rights, to provide back pay, and to reverse any action taken against workers.
What protected activities can workers do to organize a union?
Talk to organizers and hold meetings with coworkers to discuss joining a union.
Read, distribute, and discuss union literature, as long as you do this in non-work areas during non-work times, such as breaks or lunch hours.
Sign an Authorization Card asking your employer to recognize and bargain with the union.
Sign petitions or take actions with coworkers related to wages, hours, working conditions, and other job issues.
Wear union buttons, T-shirts, stickers, hats, or other items on the job (as long as you would generally be allowed to wear other kinds of buttons, T-Shirts, hats or other such items at work).
If workers form a union, who decides what is proposed for our contract and who gets to vote?
All of you will help form the contract at every step of the way. You and your co-workers are the ones who will also democratically vote to approve or reject a contract. These are the basic steps taken to develop a contract:
Workers in your workplace meet with union staff negotiators to discuss and decide what to propose for your contract.
You elect a group of your co-workers to a "bargaining committee" to represent you in negotiations, alongside a union staff negotiator.
Your bargaining committee then meets with management representatives. UFCW 3000 reimburses bargaining committee members for any lost work time to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate.
Negotiations go back and forth until there is a tentative agreement proposal package from management that your coworkers on the bargaining team want your union to vote on.
A vote is scheduled and members vote "yes" or "no" to the proposed contract
If approved, then the contract is finalized and takes effect. . If it is rejected, then both sides negotiate more.
How much are dues and who decides?
Newly organized members do not pay any dues until a contract is negotiated and you review it and vote for it. There is no initiation fee for newly-organized members.
UFCW 3000 members determine and vote on dues structure. Members also receive one-half month dues credit when they attend quarterly membership meetings.
When the total value of wages, health care coverage, retirement, and other benefits like vacation are added together, union workers are almost always much better off than non-union employees. That's why most workers would prefer to have a union if given the chance.
What are the workplaces where UFCW 3000 members work?
UFCW 3000 represents nearly 50,000 workers at hundreds of work sites across Washington, NE Oregon, and northern Idaho. Members work in many different kinds of workplaces including: grocery stores, retail stores, hospitals and clinics, laundries, meat processing, and office jobs.
Here is a breakdown of our collective and growing strength. UFCW 3000 represents:
Over 20,000 workers in grocery, including Safeway, Fred Meyer, QFC and Albertsons as well as many smaller grocery stores like PCC Natural Markets.
Over 20,000 workers in healthcare across the state including: MultiCare Health System, Kaiser Permanente, Children's Hospital, CHI-Franciscan, and Providence Health System, as well as health care employees in many public hospitals and clinics.
Over 5,000 workers in retail stores like Macy's, Fred Meyer and Bartell Drugs.
Over 2,000 workers in other industry jobs including meat processing and laundry service.
See a full list of who we represent
No matter your workplace, by organizing with UFCW 3000 you will find strength in numbers and expertise across industry. Contact an organizer today.
