IBEW Local Union 769

Why Organize ?

In today's world, more than ever, workers need to join together.

Instead of one lonely person asking for his share of the pie, by joining with others, employees can bargain from a greater position of strength and demand fairer wages, better health benefits, and a retirement plan for the future. In fact, according to the Department of Labor, union workers make up to 59% more than non-union workers in the same occupations!

Why? Because a union creates a more level playing field between employer and employee.

Union representation means that you gain rights. Legal rights that you don't have without a union contract.

Under the employment at will doctrine, the cornerstone of American employment law, in general terms, unless you belong to a protected group, your employer has the right to discipline or terminate, with impunity, you for any reason -- even a bad one -- or for no reason at all. That's why it is sometimes called the fire at will doctrine.

However, with a collective bargaining agreement, you have rights. Management must have just cause for any disciplinary action taken against a union employee. You bargain over wages, health benefits, working conditions and a retirement plan for your future. But, you bargain collectively with the strength that comes from a collective voice.

The Union
Difference
What the AFL-CIO says.

THE LAW says that YOU have the RIGHT to organize into a union of your own choice. It gives YOU the right to vote for union representation in a secret, government-supervised ballot.

Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) you have the legal right to form a union in your workplace. The NLRA says:

Section 7: "Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining ....."
Section 8(a): "It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer .... to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7 of this title...."

ITS ALWAYS wise to take full advantage of YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.

WITH A UNION, the employer must bargain and pay the wages negotiated.

WITH A UNION, your rights on the job are spelled out and must be respected.

WITH A UNION, you can stop abuses on the job. The union can prevent unjust and unfair treatment by giving you representation on the job and the right to file grievances if you are treated unfairly.

WITH A UNION, you can negotiate for better holiday pay, vacations, health and welfare benefits, and job conditions.

WITH A UNION, you have greater security on your job. Company management cannot fire you without good reason and they must respect your length of service if there are layoffs.

Who Runs the Union?

You do!

You elect your own local union officers.

You run your own local union affairs.

You have your own negotiating committee.

You make the decisions on your own union contract.

You have your own shop stewards.

You decide important policies and actions of your own union by majority vote.

You elect your international union officers.

You elect your own delegates to the international conventions.

You -- the membership -- are the final voice of authority and decision in your Union.

A union is an organization of workers joined together for a common purpose, for mutual aid and protection, to engage in concerted activity and collective bargaining, to elevate their conditions of life and labor; an organization by which ordinary people do extraordinary things.