LOCAL 317  AFL-CIO

Welcome

Affiliations

Contact Information 

Why Union?

Your Right to Organize

Major Officers

Training

Newsletter

Benefits

Meeting Minutes

News/Events

Meeting Dates

Employers

Web Links

Last modified: 

01/03/08

Disclaimer

Your rights under the law:

• To organize a union and bargain collectively with your employer over wages, benefits, and working conditions
• To attend union meetings to discuss forming a union
• To discuss the union during work, at times when you are permitted to discuss other non-work issues
• To wear union buttons or stickers at work
• To read and distribute union literature (in non-work areas, during non-working times)
• To sign a union card - signing a union card is an important first step in securing representation.

According to Federal Law, an employer cannot:

• Fire, punish, intimidate, or coerce employees seeking to organize or join a union
• Threaten to close the facility or lay off employees if they organize a union
• Tell employees that unionization will take away benefits and privileges currently in place.
• Bribe employees to vote against the union, or promise other benefits or privileges in order to influence their vote
• Ask about union activities, how employees intend to vote, or if they have signed a union card

The following information is from the AFL-CIO.

It's not easy, employers are waging war on our hopes.

Joining a union today means earning an average 34 percent more pay. But when we try to organize, we are coerced and intimidated.  Employers spend $300 million a year on consultants trained to stop workers from forming unions.

For women and people of color, the union advantage is even greater.  Compared to those who don't belong to unions, women in unions earn 40 percent more, African-Americans in unions earn 44 percent more, and Latinos in unions earn 53 percent more.  But when we consider joining a union, employers fight back with aggressive tactics.  A full 91 percent of businesses force employees behind closed doors in meetings to "change" their minds.

As union members, we're far more likely to have health care and guaranteed pensions,  But employers will say or do anything to stop us.  As least 50 percent of businesses threaten to shut down if employees decide to form a union.

Together, we can stop the war.

Elected officials, community leaders, clergy, neighbors, and friends are standing together with workers who are trying to organize.  With their help we're winning unions and making life better for ourselves, our families, and our communities.

For help and information on joining a union, contact:

Mark Maierle at (414) 671-0317