regulations

brenda.caron · Guest

Could you provide me with a list of what union organizers can and can not do during the process of unionization.

OPEIU30Steward · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2006 5:45 am Post subject:

Hi brenda.caron,

I'd like to be of assistance; could you be more specific?

brenda.caron · Guest

I will attempt to more specific towards the information I am needing. When employees of a company or organization are wanting to become unionized, there are rules the in which the companies or organizations are required to follow with thier employees. Ex. intimidate or threaten employees. In the same respect there are also rules which labor union officials need to follow. Could you please inform me as to what they are allowed and not allowed to do.
Thank you,
Brenda Caron

OrganizingAdvocate · Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:38 pm Post subject:

Hi brenda.com,

Well, to begin, I need to let you know I'm not very knowledgable on what a Union Representative can not do doing organizing drives. I think there are some specific rules for what Employers can not do as they have a big advantage in regards to access to the potential Union members-Access. I know it is illegal for the Employer to threaten to terminate an employee for voting to organize and it is illegal for the Employer to threaten to close the facility if the employees choose to organize. It is also illegal for an Employer to bribe the potential Union members with money if they say they will vote against the Union. The Employer typically holds mandatory Anti-Union meetings, however, which are legal and may 'turn over a new leaf' during the organizing campaign by providing donuts on Fridays, and cookies on Mondays, etc. -This "new leaf" usually ends after the campaign ends.

Regarding what the Union may and may not do;
I once was assisting during a leafletting with UFCW. During this event we handed out leaflettes to customers and employees and conversed with them just outside a retail store. We could not go into the store to pass out the leaflettes and talk but we were legally allowed to stand near the entrances and exits and hand out information. We needed to not be too stationary and not impede the flow of traffic by blocking access to the retailer. Keep in mind, other than the access workers allow, the Union does not have access to the potential members (not like the Employer which may follow and spew incorrect information about organizing to it's Employees while they are working or during mandatory Anti-Union meetings).