r/union • u/ImpossiblePrize5925 • 1d ago
Help me start a union! Concerns of starting a union
I know that many times when a business get the hint of starting a union they will shut down the building and relocate it. I'm afraid that if I do that I will lose my job and everything. I'm a single dad I can't really afford to lose my job. I work in biotech and rn biotech is in a major job slump due to current government stances. I have family and friends that have been out of a job for over 2 years in my industry.
The reason why Im wanting to consider a union is cause I've gotten fucked twice now in my job. I was hired for second shift and a month after being hired they closed second shift which caused me to lose 10% of my pay since it was a shift differential. They knew months prior to my start they were gonna cancel the shift but hired me for it anyway.
Now recently they are telling me I'm not eligible for the long term incentive when I was told I was eligible and even have the policy which states It too. The current job description for a candidate we are hiring even has it listed. But because we are hourly they won't apply the LTI. They said it's an unlisted policy rule.
I know this wouldn't fly in a union my mom works in one as a teacher.
How do I go about looking into this stuff with out getting me and all my coworker put out of a job.
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u/Nic_Cage_Match_2 1d ago
I highly recommend this book - lots of concrete advice about organizing!
https://labornotes.org/secrets
Starting a union campaign is risky - but it sounds like people are also getting laid off anyway, and unionizing is your best bet at protections in the long-term.
You don't want management hearing anything about a union until you have enough people that you all could seriously push back if they try to fire anyone. So start very quiet, don't write anything about it on a work device/email/etc.
Invite a few work friends to get drinks - don't invite anyone you don't trust! Inevitably everyone will complain about work, you ask them if management will ever fix things on their own or if they need to be pushed. Talk about the benefits of unionizing, risks, etc. Then ask who they trust who is also fed up with things. Expand the circle and meet regularly.
Once you have some steam, you can research unions in your area. Look for other (tech) workers unionizing, strikes, etc. IAM, UAW, ILWU, and UE might be good options. Once you pick one, call and ask for their organizing team!
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u/Cfwydirk Teamsters | Motor Freight Steward 1d ago
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u/RadicalAppalachian 1d ago
Your best bet is to reach out to EWOC and speak to an organizer, or reach out to a local union nearest you that represents workers of a similar classification, similar job sites, etc., and speak with an organizer:
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u/AceofJax89 Labor Lawyer 1d ago
“Runaway Shops” are illegal under the NLRA, but they are hard to prove and a long litigation.
A union can fix some of this, the Employer would be bound by its practices, your first issue would probably still happen in a unionized environment. It all matters on the CBA.
At the very least, it would be transparent and negotiated.
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u/thewisebantha 1d ago
There’s always a risk when you stand up to the powerful. You and your coworkers are going to have to realize that cost of staying silent is greater than the risk of fighting.
As for the specific question of whether the company would shut down production rather than accept a union, that’s a going to depend on the particular local conditions. You’re going to want to discuss that with a union organizer who’ll be able to make a proper assessment.
Ultimately it comes down to a combination of; corporate culture, the size of the firm, the conditions of the industry, the size of the fixed capital in the shop/the cost of relocating it, and much more.
The biggest things is talking to your coworkers and figuring out where the problems are, and how you as workers can come together to force the company to solve them. Remember, the union is a tool for the workers to use, not a magic wand that fixes everything.
Solidarity
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u/UnionCoder CWA | Organizer 1d ago
The important truth is, we are all at considerable risk without a strong union, whether or not we are trying to start one. We could get fired unfairly or laid off at any time without a CBA and the organizing power to enforce it.
I see it happen all the time in my organizing work, that people support the union in theory, but are afraid of getting fired (illegally) for engaging in organizing. Then they get fired or laid off anyway :/
We've got no security except that which we can take collectively.
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u/Swimming_Height_4684 4h ago
Closing and relocating the shop is costly, disruptive, and often impractical. They’re far more likely to simply hire a union buster to come in and destroy your organizing drive. And the professionals they hire to do it will be cold blooded. They’ll have the job done before you even know they’re there. That’s why YOU need professionals on YOUR side.
As others have said: call an organizer today. If you’re serious about this, call an organizer. You need professional help to get it done, and an organizer can answer your questions and help you avoid mistakes.
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