Organizing Drive

The Organizing Drive

	A Union is not some mythical figure that descends from the sky, spreads its good will, and commands our employer to be better to us. We become the Union. We decide to form our Union. It does nothing to command or direct us. We decide to take whatever course that we deem necessary as The Union. American unions remain an important political factor, both through mobilization of their own memberships and through coalitions with like-minded activist organizations around issues such as immigrant rights, trade policy, health care, and living wage campaigns. Unions allege that employer opposition (including running anti-union campaigns using union avoidance consultants) contributed to this decline in membership. Unions have responded by using their political power to amend United States labor law to restrict or eliminate the requirement for a vote on the issue of union representation, instead relying on card check recognition US labor law Employees have the right to form, join, support or assist unions, also known as labor organizations, who may bargain collectively with the employer on the employees’ behalf seeking to modify wages or working conditions. Employees also have the right to engage in other protected concerted activities without a union seeking to improve their wages and other working conditions. Employees also have the right to refrain from engaging in these activities or to seek removal of a union from the workplace. (However a union and employer may, in a State where such agreements are permitted, enter into a lawful union-security clause). Employees covered by the NLRA are protected from employer and union discrimination, also known as unfair labor practices. Employers are also afforded rights under the NLRA protecting them from certain unlawful activities. For example, labor unions may not limit their productivity and insist that more workers be hired. For more information about the rights of employers covered by the NLRA, read The NLRB and You – Unfair Labor Practices (PDF). Unions are protected by the NLRA from unfair labor practices, and guaranteed the right to organize, or attempt to form a bargaining unit in private sector workplaces covered by the Act. Unions, chosen as employee representatives, are entitled to engage in collective bargaining with an employer on behalf of employees to modify their wages and other working conditions Today most labor unions in the United States are members of one of two larger umbrella organizations: the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) or the Change to Win Federation, which split from the AFL-CIO in 2005. Both organizations advocate policies and legislation favorable to workers in the United States and Canada, and take an active role in politics favoring the Democratic party but not exclusively so. The AFL-CIO is especially concerned with global trade issues NOW IS THE TIME TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR FUTURE!!!!* This is as real as it gets. This is the best opportunity that we will have!!!! Seize the moment now!