How do you start a union?

[Red Flag]

I was recently employed at a tech company in pennylsvania, (US) doing tech support over the phone.

I am curious to what steps we must take to unionize? could someone inform me?

[Jesus Christ]

you first have to gain the support of your fellow workers, enough to intimidate the management
then you have to issue the management a list of your demands and have him/her/them sign it
youll have to hold monthly meetings and such
im sure others here can help u out more

[Red Flag]

so basically i would have to have the majority of my comrades at my place of employment agree to be all for one?

but what's this about union cards and such?

[Jesus Christ]

yes, youll basically have to get the support of more than the majority, or else youll go nowhere

union card just basically show that you are part of a certain union and are useful in making sure that only members can get into meetings

[Morpheus]

Go to http://www.iww.org

[Red Flag]

thanks a million

[Comrade Ceausescu]

good luck with that comrade.

[Severian]

About the cards...during organizing drives, unions get people to sign cards...called authorization cards or something like that...

When more than 50% of the workers have signed 'em, then the National Labor Relations Board organizes an election. If more than 50% of the workers vote for the union, then the company is legally supposed to recognize the union and negotiate a union contract. Usually the union wants much more than 50% of the workers to sign cards so they'll have a good chance of winning the election despite the usual company intimidation, etc.

All of that is the official route. Kinda red-tape-ish.

I don't recommend you ignore it...but I would say try to make sure you've got a strong group of people in the workplace doing the grassroots work to win support for the union. And try to have as much contact as you can with rank-and-file unionized workers, who can explain to your coworkers the advantages of belonging to a union. Not just people on the union's staff.

If you think there is enough support where you work, contact the union of your choice...I don't really have a recommendation.

Somebody was steering you towards the IWW. They talk a revolutionary line, but last I heard didn't actually organize or represent any workers.

[Red Flag]

i was looking in the direction of the IWW, but your saying they dont organize I wonder who else would be good to look to

[Blackberry]

Originally posted by Red [email protected] 19 2003, 06:53 AM
i was looking in the direction of the IWW, but your saying they dont organize I wonder who else would be good to look to
It's up to the members of the IWW to call a strike or such. It's a decentralised union, and does tot some central authority.

If you ever do that, then you will receive as much support from the IWW as possible.