Can a company help a worker get rid of a union?

Workers who want to rid themselves of a union are completely on their own. Obviously the union will not help them and the company is forbidden to help by law. The company cannot even let the workers so much as use a copier for the petitions, which would be considered “aiding” the de-authorization effort.

Can a union member be fined during a strike?

The union can legally fine members who return to work during a strike. Non-members cannot be fined or threatened under the law, but unions have been found guilty of doing so anyway. If the union wins, when will there be another election?

What happens if you are not a union member?

Under the law, if workers who are not union members object to the use of their money for things that are not directly related to collective bargaining, they are entitled to a refund of the portion of their dues spent on politics and other non-bargaining activities.

Can a worker opt out of joining a union?

However, workers have an option they should know about. The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) has a provision that may be the best kept secret in labor law. Known as de-authorization, it allows workers to opt out of joining a union as a condition of employment.

Why did I get Laid off from my job?

However, there are simply instances where businesses are forced to “downgrade” their operations, either by closing subsidiaries or divisions or stopping certain operations. Sometimes, this means that some departments have to be removed, and the people working on them have to be laid off.

Can you get fired for being part of a union?

You have job security. When you aren’t part of a union, you can be fired for no reason (I’m reminded of when I was unfairly fired a few years ago). But when you’re part of a union, it’s pretty hard to get fired. It has to be pretty serious, and even then, you can still file a grievance.

How are union employees protected from being laid off?

These are workers who are elected to represent the employees in the bargaining unit in dealings with the employer. By giving stewards superseniority, the CBA guarantees that they are the last workers to be laid off and the first ones to be recalled.

Can a union member be laid off without a CBA?

Some CBAs don’t allow layoffs even when the employer claims that it doesn’t have enough money to pay everyone on payroll. Other CBAs require the employer to maintain enough work for union members, for example, by preventing the employer from laying off union workers and replacing them with non-union workers.

What happens when an employer lays off an employee?

For example, if your employer lays off your whole department or closes the facility where you worked, it doesn’t have to make a special arrangement to protect your job just because you’re on workers’ comp. However, an employer may not lay off or fire an employee because of that employee’s workers’ comp claim.

Are there layoff provisions in a union contract?

Layoff Provisions in Collective Bargaining Agreements. A CBA is a contract negotiated between a union and an employer, so no two CBAs are exactly alike. However, any CBA will include terms related to layoffs or RIFs. Typically, layoffs will be based, at least in part, on seniority: how long you have worked at the company.

When is an employer required to bargain with a union?

After employees choose a union as a bargaining representative, the employer and union are required to meet at reasonable times to bargain in good faith about wages, hours, vacation time, insurance, safety practices and other mandatory subjects.

Can a public employee de-authorize a union?

Currently, 24 states do not allow public employees to de-authorize their unions. Governors and legislators in those states now have an opportunity to revamp their labor laws for state and municipal workers to give them a real choice.