How do I organize a union at my workplace?

[mdmc]

Hello DU!

I am an overworked caseworker that works for a contract agency that is funded by my counties department of social service and probation.

My agency does the same work that county employees do, just cheaper. We don't get cars, gas, phones, or a pension. We do the same work.

Recently, my agency increased our work load, an has made it nearly impossible to complete all assignments within a 40 hour work week. Generally the full time staff works about 50 hours, but newbies can never complete their work, even at 60 or 70 hours per week!

The county (unionized) employees would never be treated this way.

Is there a way to get representation by a union? I would love to explore this option.

Help me out DU!

Peace and low stress,
mdmc

[mitchtv]

1. your employer is the Agency, not the county?

I presume. That makes it difficult. You have to get enough signatures on union cards for a majority of the agency employees to hold a NLRB election. Contact your local CWA for help.

[mdmc]

6. what is cwa

Isn't CWA the communications workers of america?

I work in social service.

[mitchtv]

12. Yes, but CWA represents many Public

employees Our fight with Taylor Made went to the USSC we kept winning, they kept fighting.

[htuttle]

2. The first thing to do is probably to contact the union...

...that you want to be affiliated with. They would be able to give you better advice than myself.

Generally, you'd have to have some sort of vote in your workplace on whether your co-workers want to engage in collective bargaining. If you vote yes, then you can have the union represent everyone when dealing with management. Actually getting it going is somewhat more complicated than that, of course.

Big question though: Do you live in a so-called 'right to work' state? If so, you're probably fucked unless you can get *everyone* in your workplace (and everyone new they hire) to agree to join the union. Most states south of the old Mason-Dixon line are 'right to work states'. Most states around the Great Lakes are not. Not sure about states out west, but I'd guess that many of them are 'right to work' states as well.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

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[htuttle]

8. Correct

But with Management spewing a lot of FUD about the union -- which they always do -- it will be far more difficult to get one going and keep it going over time.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

3. Contact the Cornell Union Leadership Institute

Their very purpose is for areas such as your own where unions have been undermined. They will assist you.

[mdmc]

7. nice...

thanks...

[bread_and_roses]

4. go to AFL-CIO website

at:
http://www.afl-cio.org/

scroll down on the left, there's a link to how to form a union where you work.

[mdmc]

9. thank you ! thank you!

yes! YES!

[im10ashus]

10. First thing you do is remain VERY quiet about it.

I've worked for two unions. The Printers Union and The Restaurant Workers Union. I've seen other restaurant workers who weren't working for a union affiliate try and get their worker's to join and they were outed and fired. Be careful about whom you share your idea with. I'd first contact the union you want to affiliate with and get some pointers. That's the best way to start. My heart goes out to you. Good luck.

[mdmc]

11. thanks...

exploitation sucks...

[im10ashus]

14. Indeed it does.

Just be assured that not every person is pro-union, present company excluded of course.

[mitchtv]

17. As you can see, it can be CWA, UAW, or a host of

possible locals , to affiliate with. I personally think that you are facing an uphill battle. You are an agency employee, these jobs are traditionally used to bypass labor.I am no lawyer, only a stewart. come foward and you're gone. They will bypass NLRB by not firing you,just say the job is over. How will you ever locate all the other employees? My guess is that it's not considered "permanent"? You had better have a hard core group who will back you, and cover you.

[noonwitch]

13. I'm a social worker for the state-we are UAW

I complain about them sometimes, but I have good health insurance and can at least pay my bills. I also will continue to have the health insurance for free after I retire! That's the standard UAW contract.

[mdmc]

15. what does uaw stand for?

union of american workers?

[bobbieinok]

16. isn't it auto workers????

[Bozita]

18. My pal's wife was a caseworker for a private company doing social service

... work. Same thing as your situation.

On her first day, she had to attend a training session in a city about 75 miles away. It took 2 hours driving to get there. The "training" lasted 4 hours. Two more hours for the return trip.

She got one-half of a day's pay for that day. No mileage, no gas money, no lunch.

It was all downhill after that. She left after a couple of months.

Her caseload was double that of her equivalents working for the state under a union contract. Her pay was shit; benefits were non-existent.

Organizing a union is hard work even under the best of circumstances in this country today. In your profession, it's next to impossible due to the lack of contact between the caseworkers.

Keep in mind that your job in that private firm was created to avoid the wages, hours and working conditions provided to state employed social workers.

I'm sorry that I can't be more positive.

[mdmc]

20. I know it is hard work. Folks like your buddies wife

are getting a bum rap. I think that I'll try to do something about it.

[Ready2Snap]

19. I heard an interesting thing on Franken ths morning

He said that companies that are facing union organization will hire a consultant. The first thing the consultant tells them
is to improve working conditions!!
So even making a noise about unionizing could improve things.

And even if you don't get a union, just trying may improve your situation.
That's not to say they won't fire the lot of you, but then you won't have to go to that lousy job every day, either.
It's a win/win.

[dajoki]

21. AFSCME could also help

even though you are not directly emloyed by the county they are worth a contact. be very careful that your employer doesn't fire everybody while you are organizing. i know this from experience.

[leftofthedial]

22. just skip all the BS you'd go through starting a union

Monday morning, walk into the boss's office and demand to be fired.


Seriously, I don't know. Good luck though! Workers need to organize.