Introduction

The Basics

Operating the Union

Contract Administration

Organizing

Building Trades and
Other Organizations

Labor Law

Politics and Government

Useful Information

Education

References

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Organizing Overview

What is organizing?

	Rebuilding bargaining strength
	Controlling the supply of labor
	Providing a voice to workers
	Building solidarity
	Controlling our future destiny
	Developing strategic union policies

Reasons why workers join a union:

	Dissatisfaction
	Failure of other remedies to resolve dissatisfaction
	Belief that the union has the power to help
	Union power was demonstrated

Talking union - What do workers want?

Worker Representation and Participation Survey (Word document)
Damned Union (Word document)

Obstacles to Organizing

	Identifying appropriate targets
	Irrelevance of law
	Unorganized workers' fear and distrust of union
	Competitive nature of business
	Member resistance
	Declining power of the strike
	Need for new strategies

What really went wrong?

	Complacency
	Counterproductive union policies
	Attitudes - we're a great union, people will come to us
	Selective in type of companies organized
	Did not understand changing nature of workforce (only want to organize people just like us - and who are “us?”

Why not organize?
If they think about it at all, many members are apathetic about organizing.

Reasons members list for resisting opposing organizing efforts

	Not necessary
	Law stacked in employer’s hands
	Too difficult
	Too expensive
	Local should spend more time on current members
	Union should spend more time fighting NAFTA and plant closings
	Marginal non-union shops can’t pay union scale and will undermine contract
	Members don’t have time to organize
	New members don’t have a commitment to the union
	Lower in priority than other tasks
	Someone else’s job (organizer/international)

Why organize?
In a nutshell, to build collective bargaining strength.

Why is membership support for organizing essential?

	Political support for leadership
	Funding organizing activities
	Welcoming new members
	Active participation in organizing

How to Support and Promote Effective Organizing

	Establish local union organizing committee
	Establish a member organizing education program
	Support bargaining demands that enhance organizing opportunities
	Leave of absence for volunteer organizers
	Neutrality clauses (for organizing at other facilities)
	Voluntary recognition
	Introduction and union orientation program for new workers

Top Down Organizing
According to the Building Trades Department’s Construction Organizing Handbook (1993 edition), a union organizer’s negotiation strategy should consider:

	An understandable agreement that contractors will sign
	A signatory subcontract clause if none exists
	A work preservation clause to limit double-breasting
	A modification to any most-favored nations clause that contemplates flexibility to establish distinct votes, benefits and conditions for different regions, industries or even for separate projects
	An agreement enforcement strategy coupled with a standards enforcement strategy aimed at both the union and non-union sector.