In the United States, unions are a divisive topic. Some laud them as some of the few organizations fighting for the rights of common people, while others decry them as bastions of corruption and laziness. Before trying to unionize, it's important to understand how unions function in an objective way - free of bias either in favor of or against unions.  In a union, the employees at a workplace agree to band together (either on their own or with employees from other workplaces) to collectively negotiate for any number of things - higher wages and better working conditions, for instance. If enough people in the workplace agree to join in a union and the union is made official, the employer is required by law to negotiate a contract with the union, which represents all the workers, rather than with each worker individually, as the employer normally would. Collectively, workers in a union have greater negotiating power than they do individually. If, for instance, a worker who isn't in a union demands higher wages or better treatment, she or he can often be ignored - the worst-case scenario for the employer is the employee will quit and someone else will have to be hired. If, however, the workers band together in a union and demand better treatment, the employer has to take notice - if all the workers agree to stop working (in an action called a "strike"), the employer has no way to run the business and is out of luck. Finally, members of a union have to pay "dues" - fees that are used to run the union itself, pay pensions, pay union organizers and lawyers, lobby the government for favorable policy-making, and some use a portion of dues to a "strike fund" - money used to pay union members so they'll be able to support themselves during a strike. The amount of money paid as dues varies based on the decision of union members or leadership, depending on how democratically-run your union is. The goal of a union is for increased pay and better working conditions to more than outweigh the cost of membership. Often, the management at a business will try to discourage employees from forming a union, as union workers usually get higher pay and better working conditions than non-union workers. It's important to know your legal rights when it comes to forming a union so you can protect yourself and, if necessary, fight back against any illegal action by your employer.  In the US, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) details the rights of union members as well as would-be union members. Most courts have decided the Section 7 of the NLRA dictates the following legal mandates: Employees may discuss the idea of forming a union and distribute union literature during non-work time and in non-work places - like, for instance, a break room. They may also display their union support through clothing, pins, jewelry, etc. Employees can ask other employees to sign petitions regarding the formation of a union, specific employment grievances, etc. Employees can also ask employers to recognize these petitions.   Additionally, most courts agree that Section 8 of the NLRA provides the following protections: Employers cannot offer raises, promotions, or other incentives to employees if they agree not to unionize. Employers cannot close down a work site or otherwise transfer work away from certain employees because of union affiliation. Employers cannot fire, demote, harass, dock pay from, or otherwise punish employees because of union affiliation. Finally, employers also cannot threaten to do any of the above acts. Because it's difficult for employers to legally discourage unions through direct intervention, many will resort to myths, distortions, and outright lies to dissuade employees from forming or joining a union. If your employer spreads any of the following rumors, recognize that they are inaccurate and inform your fellow workers of this fact:  Union dues aren't worth it. In fact, the goal of union dues is to allow negotiation that is more effective so your increased wages and improved work conditions more than counteract the cost of membership. Additionally, its members determine a union’s dues structure, and the members must vote on any changes to it. Dues aren't paid until the union negotiates a contract that's approved by the members. Union supporters will lose their jobs before they can form a union. It's illegal to fire or punish someone because of his or her union sympathies. By joining a union, you'll lose the benefits you have now. It's illegal for employers to withdraw benefits because of employees' union sympathies. Besides this, your current wages and benefits stay in effect until the members of the union (that includes you) decide on a different contract. You'll lose everything when you're forced to go on strike. Despite the popular misconception, strikes are exceedingly rare. The OPEIU (Office & Professional Employees International Union) reports that only about 1% of contract negotiations result in a strike. Additionally, if you join a larger union, rather than organizing your own, you'll likely have access to a strike fund, from which you'll be paid during the strike. Unions are unfair to employers or take advantage of employers' kindness. The goal of a union is to negotiate an agreement between the employer and the employees - not to rob the employer or drive him or her out of business. No employment contract comes into effect until both parties agree to it. Finally, if an employer doesn't pay a reasonable wage for an employee's work and see to it that working conditions are safe and reasonable, the employer is actively doing the employee a disservice by robbing him or her of the opportunity cost of his or her time, to say nothing of his or her wellbeing.
تعرف على كيفية عمل النقابات والاتحادات العمالية. تعرف جيدًا على حقوقك. واجه الأكاذيب ومحاولات التشويه.