Rick and Allan want to start a union in the small factory where they work. Outline the basic procedures they will need to follow to get a union recognized as the exclusive bargaining unit for the company employees

Answer 1

The employees will need to visit with various union representatives to find out which union would be best suited to represent their interests. Often organization meetings are conducted where speakers from unions talk to the employees about their particular union. A union will then attempt to have a sizable percentage of the workers, say 30 percent or more, sign authorization cards stating that they, the workers, want that particular union to represent them. If the employer does not voluntarily recognize the union as the employees' representative, the union will petition the NLRB for an election. The NLRB will insure that the workers have been properly categorized and that the chosen union is an appropriate representative. If so, it will authorize an election. If at least a simple majority of the eligible workers vote for that union (50 percent plus 1), then the union is certified as the exclusive bargaining unit for the employees.