Exploring your rights to be in a union

Check out the National Labor Relations Board website to learn all about the rights you have as an employee.

1. Do I have the right to contact and form a union? 

Yes.  The National Labor Relations Act gives you the right to organize a union in your workplace. Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act protects your right to form a union.

NLRA Section 7: Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or bargain collectively through representation of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining...

2. What happens if my boss finds out? 

The National Labor Relations Act also provides sweeping protection for employees seeking to learn about and form a union in their workplace.  It's not your employer’s choice. It's your choice. It is illegal for your employer to retaliate in any way against you for forming a union or learning more about one. 

It is Illegal for Your Boss to:

• Fire or threaten to fire, layoff, discipline, harass, transfer, or reassign an employee because they seek advice from a union or support forming a union 

• Favor employees who don’t support the union over those that do in promotions, hours, enforcement of rules or any other condition

• Close or threaten to close your place of employment

• Take away benefits

• Deny privileges in order to discourage union activity

3. What do I do to get things started? 

To begin moving things forward, reach out and call one of our organizers (616-259-0808). They'll be able to cover your rights and protections in greater detail and provide a clear outline of how to begin the process of forming a union.