A couple union questions

[Samael]

Okay, so I've got some questions about unions.

1.) Can salary workers still be in unions? I would think that they would be able to but for some reason I have this memory of somebody telling me it is illegal for a salary worker to be in a union. (It may be from a dream or just a false memory).

2.) Does anybody know of a list of unions that are currently in the United States? I'm trying to find out if there is a union for people who work in movie theaters as I would like to try to unionize the theater I work at.
'
3.) How would I go about unionizing the theater? Is it purely worker related or does management have to okay it?


Sorry if I seem stupid but I just had these questions and I'm new to the labor movement so ya.

[Clarksist]

1.) Can salary workers still be in unions? I would think that they would be able to but for some reason I have this memory of somebody telling me it is illegal for a salary worker to be in a union. (It may be from a dream or just a false memory).

I believe salary workers can unionize, although I do remember that commission paid workers can get unionized very quickly.


2.) Does anybody know of a list of unions that are currently in the United States? I'm trying to find out if there is a union for people who work in movie theaters as I would like to try to unionize the theater I work at.


http://www.aflcio.org/aboutunions/unions/
http://www.answers.com/topic/list-of-labor-unions

Best I could do. As far as ushers unionizing... hopefully you are getting benefits for kicking kids out of R-rated movies. That way SOMEONE benefits from it.


3.) How would I go about unionizing the theater? Is it purely worker related or does management have to okay it?


There are a lot of legal dealings in unionizing. Although, you could unofficially unionize and just everyone demand the same thing by "coincidence".

[kurt]

Originally posted by [email protected] 19 2005, 04:13 AM
Okay, so I've got some questions about unions.

1.) Can salary workers still be in unions? I would think that they would be able to but for some reason I have this memory of somebody telling me it is illegal for a salary worker to be in a union. (It may be from a dream or just a false memory).

2.) Does anybody know of a list of unions that are currently in the United States? I'm trying to find out if there is a union for people who work in movie theaters as I would like to try to unionize the theater I work at.
'
3.) How would I go about unionizing the theater? Is it purely worker related or does management have to okay it?


Sorry if I seem stupid but I just had these questions and I'm new to the labor movement so ya.

1) Never heard of that restriction.. I wouldn't think so, but I can't be sure.

2) I'm pretty sure that workers who run the actual reels are unionized, or at least some are where I'm from, but I'm not sure where you'd get the list per say.

3) http://www.iww.org.uk/info/basic.html , check that out.

http://www.iww.org/ is a great website that can probably answer any further questions you may have. Good luck!

[Severian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2005, 10:13 PM
Okay, so I've got some questions about unions.

1.) Can salary workers still be in unions? I would think that they would be able to but for some reason I have this memory of somebody telling me it is illegal for a salary worker to be in a union. (It may be from a dream or just a false memory).
There are limits on management personnel and security guards organizing. That may be what you're thinking of. And in many places only hourly (blue-collar) people are in the union, and not engineers and so forth, but that's not required by law.


2.) Does anybody know of a list of unions that are currently in the United States? I'm trying to find out if there is a union for people who work in movie theaters as I would like to try to unionize the theater I work at.

Clarsksist gave the list I woulda, off the AFL-CIO site. Here's one union that might organize others in movie theaters: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (http://www.iatse-intl.org/organizing/usorg.html)

That's their organizing page, may answer some of your questions.


3.) How would I go about unionizing the theater? Is it purely worker related or does management have to okay it?

Management doesn't have to like it, but unfortunately it's not purely worker-related.

The usual process has a lot of government red tape. If the union can get a majority of workers to sign cards expressing a desire to form a union, then a government agency holds an election. If a majority vote yes, the employer is legally required to recognize and negotiate with the union. Getting together to apply some kind of pressure to the employers' pocketbook and make 'em give up something in those negotiations is then up to you and your coworkers.

If you and your coworkers can find some way to apply pressure to the employer, you may be able to cut through some of the red tape; for example employers occasionally recognize a union based on counting the cards.

[Samael]

Thanks for all of your replies. You've all been more than helpful. And thanks for the links too, I'll check them out. Thanks again.