Key points about bargaining: 

• Bargaining is a process, not an automatic outcome
  Collective bargaining means employees (through a union) and the employer negotiate the terms of employment. This does not happen automatically. Reaching a first collective bargaining agreement often takes a year or more and involves multiple discussions and proposals.

• Outcomes are not guaranteed
  Everything discussed during bargaining is negotiable. This includes wages, benefits, workplace policies, and flexibility. As a result, some terms may improve, some may stay the same, and others could change in different ways depending on what both sides agree to.

• No contract is in place until both sides agree
  There is no contract in effect until an agreement is reached and approved by both parties. Until then, existing pay, benefits, and workplace policies generally remain in place unless changes are mutually agreed upon.

• Negotiations cover specific topics
  Common bargaining subjects include:

  • Wages
  • Benefits
  • Work schedules and overtime
  • Safety practices
  • Time off
  • Attendance policies
  • Work rules and policies

Exclusive Representation

If a union is elected, it becomes the exclusive representative for employees in the bargaining unit. This means the union represents employees in discussions with the company about wages, benefits, and other working conditions.

Your Vote Is Your Choice

Signing a union authorization card is not the same as voting in a union election. If an election is held, eligible employees may decide for themselves how to vote by secret ballot.

How Workplace Concerns Are Addressed

With union representation, workplace concerns related to negotiated topics are generally handled through the union and the collective bargaining process rather than through individual discussions.

Strike and Work Stoppages

In some situations, unions may call for strikes or other collective actions as part of labor disputes. Participation requirements and pay during a strike can vary based on union rules and circumstances.

Union Dues or Fees

In some states, union-represented employees may be required to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment. How dues are used is determined by the union.

What is a labor union?

Labor unions are a business – they are not a cause, a movement or group of “employees for employees.”  They are a business that makes money via member dues (this means – in most states — every member of a union can have a portion of their paycheck go to the union).

Unions collect requests from employees and present them to management in what is referred to as a “Collective Bargaining Agreement” (CBA). Once CBAs are completed, changes to that agreement are generally not made again until the next negotiations. See more about this below.

What are union dues? What are they used for?

A union’s income is from member dues. In most states, union dues are taken out of member paychecks whether they voted for the union or not.  These dues are used to pay for their office overhead, staff salaries and other expenses which may include political contributions and lobbying.  Employees should do their own research on how these funds have been used in the past and if this aligns with your values.

If your site is unionized, a union may make you pay dues to continue working at your site.  Any dues that are collected from member paychecks would go to the union, not to employees or the company.

What are union cards?

Union cards, or authorization cards, look like an electronic signature page, a simple survey or a postcard, but they are actually legal documents with legal significance. Signing the card is a big decision, and these cards can be a legally binding document that is likely to be used to demand union recognition or initiate an election for your site. When 30% of employees sign union cards, the union can petition the NLRB to hold an election.

What if I want my signed card back?

If you change your mind, you can ask the union for your card back. This might be hard to do, but it is your right. Regardless, it’s important for you to know that even if you signed a union card, you can still vote “No” in an election. The ballot is secret. The final choice is yours and yours alone.

What happens if a union is elected?

• The union becomes the exclusive representative for employees in the bargaining unit
• The union speaks on behalf of all employees in that group, regardless of how individuals voted
• Individual employees generally do not negotiate wages, benefits, or working conditions directly