How do I start a union?

Question

I work for a small business with a few joint owners and 15 slaves to the man. Work conditions are awful. Pay is poor to average at best. The system we use to do our business is outdated and rediculous, and we must work weekends to catch up with the competition because the ownership is not open to change. I feel the only way to force change for the better is to begin a union to bargain with, but the main owner has made it clear that he will not tolerate a unionized work force. So my specific question is: how to I start or join a union that will bring our employer into the 21st century without getting everyone fired?

Answer 1

I'm sure you'll find some union organizer to answer your question directly. I don't know how to start a union. But from your description of the problem, I'm not convinced a union is your best bet. Unions won't make an employer change ther methods. They'll just force them to pay more. That only works if the company has extra income or knows how to improve their income. If not, a union will only force the company to die faster. (Watch the airlines, if you don't get that.)

If you're truly convinced that the only problem is in the management decisions, it sounds to me like what you want to create is not a union but a competitor. Start a business parallel to the one you work for, hire away the best workers, and go into competition with your lethargic company. If you're right, you'll make a fortune AND be able to improve conditions for your worker buddies. If you're wrong, at least there will still be a company operating after yours goes under. Either way, your co-workers come out as well off as they can.

Answer 2

A union isn't necessarily your best answer. For most small business owners, declaring bankruptcy and closing the business is more economically viable than dealing with the hassle of a union. And unions aren't always the best answer for employees.

Assuming you live in the US, start with your state labor board. Make sure your employer is following all of the local, state and federal labor laws. Tactfully point out his violations (if any) and ask him to change them, or let him know that the state will make him change. FWIW, I've found that the number one rule that employers violate are the overtime laws - either deliberately or just because they don't understand them.

If he is following the letter of the law, you still don't have to unionize to use collective bargaining tactics. If the majority of your co-workers feel this way, you can approach him as a group and demand changes.

Whatever tactic you choose, be prepared to lose your job. But keep in mind that it is time-consuming and a hassle to find new employees, so if 4-5 people quit or are fired at once, your owner will have problems replacing you in a timely manner, something that _will_ hurt their business.

Were I in your shoes, I would start by organizing one weekend where everyone just flat out refuses to work, regardless of whether or not you are behind on your work. If it's a weekend, it's likely to be overtime anyway, and that shouldn't affect normal business. If you show up on Monday and the man wants to fire you all, then you all just walk out. You're better off.

If you have some serious competition in your industry and location, you can use that to your advantage as well - If you all walk out and head to your competitors place(s) to seek employment, not only will you hurt his business, you will make him worried about what advantages his competitors will gain.

Again, a union will won't necessarily help you, and may just steel the owner against any sort of compromise. But a statement like "You know what? We're not going to unionize, but we are going to stand up for ourselves - we aren't working this weekend, and that is final" will get your point across and show that your open to compromise

Answer 3

There is no easy answer here. The most important question you need to answer is, does your company make money? If the company is struggling even though it pays you little, it will probably go under immediately after you get a pay raise. So instead of starting a union, you should start looking for a new job.

If the company is profitable, things can be totally different. You should talk to an attorney practicing labor law and see what your options are.

Answer 4

Unions don't work for small businesses. Just either start your own business with your fellow employees and your contacts or talk to the owner after doing your homework show what updated system cost and how much money they would save or earn on payroll running the light and equipment on weekends, winning more bids. If those dont appeal to you then find another job maybe with one of his competors. Life to short to be miserable.

Answer 5

You never said what type of business this is. Normally, there are unions for skilled trades and teachers but there are also Unions for office workers and assembly line workers.