What is Organizing?
Organizing takes place when union "organizers" educate unrepresented workers to encourage them to join a union. This education includes topics such as workplace rights, wages, benefits, and various other perks of being a union member. A union organizer may visit unrepresented workers at their home or any other location outside the workplace to talk about the problems they face at work. The goal of a union organizer is to obtain a union contract between the employer and employee, which ultimately provides for better working conditions.

Why Join a Union?
There may be no better reason to join a union other than the fact that union members' wages in the construction industry are, on average, 30% higher than non-union workers' wages throughout the Midwest. It is not uncommon for non-union workers to earn $8 an hour, have no health insurance, and have no pension. Public assistance programs funded by taxpayers make up for what employers should be paying, but a lot of times they are instead pocketing these funds. Of course, corporations and private businesses have the fundamental right to make a profit . . . it is part of the “American Dream.” Some CEOs, though, earn 500 times the wages paid to their workers, and this greed is contributing to the demise of the Middle Class.

In 1935, the United States Government enacted the National Labor Relations Act, which grants employees in the private sector the right to form labor organizations and bargain collectively without the interference of employers. There is no denying that there is power in numbers, and such strength gives an edge to employees when it comes to setting the terms and conditions of their employment.

Many non-union workers take for granted the rights and protections afforded to them by virtue of labor's struggles in the past. The 8-hour work day and 5-day work week are key examples. Additionally, in the states in which unions are the strongest, there is less poverty, higher household income, more education spending, and better public policy than in the states in which unions are the weakest.

Organize Your Workplace
As a worker, you have a right under federal law to form a union, select representatives of your choice, and bargain collectively with your employer. This helps balance out the power that an employer has over his or her individual employees. Belonging to a union gives you rights under law that you do not otherwise have as an individual. Once you have formed or joined a union, your employer must bargain with you over your wages, hours, and working conditions.

1. Attend any union meeting, park across the street from the hall, or engage in any undercover activity which would indicate that the employees are being kept under surveillance to determine who is and who is not participating in the union program.
2. Tell employees that the company will fire or punish them if they engage in union activity.
3. Lay off, discharge, or discipline any employee for union activity.
4. Grant employees wage increases, special concessions, or benefits in order to keep the union out.
5. Bar employee-union representatives from soliciting employees' memberships on or off the company property during non-waking hours.
6. Ask employees about union matters, meetings, etc. (Some employees may, of their own accord, walk up and tell of such matters. It is not an unfair labor practice to listen, but to ask questions to obtain additional information is illegal).
7. Ask employees what they think about the union or a union representative once the employee refuses to discuss it.
8. Ask employees how they intend to vote.
9. Threaten employees with reprisal for participating in union activities. For example, threaten to move the plant or close the business, curtail operations, or reduce employees' benefits.
10. Promise benefits to employees if they reject the union.
11. Give financial support or other assistance to a union.
12. Announce that the company will not deal with the union.
13. Threaten to close, actually close, or move the plant in order to avoid dealing with a union.
14. Ask employees whether or not they belong to a union or have signed up for union representation.
15. Ask an employee, during the hiring interview, about his or her affiliation with a labor organization or how he or she feels about unions.
16. Make anti-union statements or act in a way that might show preference for a non-union man or woman.
17. Make distinctions between union and non-union employees when signing overtime work or desirable work.
18. Purposely team up non-union men and women and keep them apart from those supporting the union.
19. Transfer workers on the basis of union affiliations or activities.
20. Choose employees to be laid off in order to weaken the union's strength or discourage membership in the union.
21. Discriminate against union people when disciplining employees.
22. By nature of work assignments, create conditions intended to get rid of an employee because of his or her union activity.
23. Fail to grant a scheduled benefit or wage increase because of union activity.
24. Deviate from company policy for the purpose of getting rid of a union supporter.
25. Take action that adversely affects an employee's job or pay rate because of union activity.
26. Threaten workers or coerce them in an attempt to influence their vote.
27. Threaten a union member through a third party.
28. Promise employees a reward or future benefit if they decide "no union."
29. Tell employees overtime work (and premium pay) will be discontinued if the plant is unionized.
30. Say unionization will force the company to lay off employees.
31. Say unionization will do away with vacations or other benefits and privileges presently in effect.
32. Promise employees promotions, raises, or other benefits if they get out of the union or refrain from joining the union.
33. Start a petition or circular against the union or encourage or take part in its circulation if started by employees.
34. Urge employees to try to induce others to oppose the union or keep out of it.
35. Visit the homes of employees to urge them to reject the union.