|
Non Majority Unions: Methods of Organizing
Concerted
activity: key to organizing on the shop floor
 | Must
find ways to mobilize workers power and build active unity on the shop
floor.
|
Where
to begin – NLRB or building the union first outside of the NLRB?
| Starting
out organizing to win an NLRB vote reduces interest in non majority unions
|
Mapping
the workplace
| Non
majority unions must members located throughout all major departments
|
| Need
employee lists
|
What
constitutes a critical mass?
| Non
majority unions should have at-least 50 members to emerge as a formal
organization.
|
Formal
Organization
| Must
have structure, regular membership meetings, by-laws and new member
orientation.
|
Must
Actively Recruit New Members
| Quarterly
blitzes, announced membership drives, steward contests.
|
Social
Activities
| Union
needs to sponsor social activities—sports teams, picnics, dances, trips.
|
Developing
a majority sentiment
| Using
petitions, buttons and color days to show broader support than the union
membership shows growing union influence.
|
| Surveys
to establish workplace wide priorities and assessments.
|
Using
the team structures?
| Non
majority unions should influence through team structures where they exist.
|
Emerging
from underground work?
| Important
to use a key issue, tradition or struggle, workplace or community to emerge.
|
Using
company policies like a contract?
| Should
try and make company accountable to its policies.
|
The
Role of Union Stewards
| Union
Stewards must be shop floor activists, using company policies, federal and
state laws, open door policies and grievance procedures where they exist to
help workers challenge injustices.
|
Attacking
no solicitation policies
| Policies
prohibiting solicitation that prevents distribution of literature should be
challenged with NLRB charges.
|
Importance
of a Newsletter
| A
necessary voice and organizing tool of the union. Victories must be
publicized.
|
Using
Workers Rights Boards?
| Establishing
a form of community worker justice helps to win public opinion and community
support around worker rights and isolates management.
|
Using
the Media
| Inform
local newspapers about workplace issues and union victories.
|
Politicizing
the struggle
| Bring
issues to city councils and involving elected officials is important.
|
| Must
be involved in struggles for labor law reform.
|
Filing
NLRB Charges and Lawsuit
| Charges
and lawsuits should be filed selectively and in conjunction with worker
struggles.
|
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