What is a union?

What is a union, exactly?

At its core, a union is a group of workers who organize collectively to improve their lives on the job. By working together, workers can use their combined strength to demand better wages, working conditions, and benefits, as well as have a say in how the workplace operates. The most common way to win these improvements is through a collective bargaining agreement, which the union negotiates with management. The collective bargaining agreement (or “union contract”) lays out workers’ rights on the job, pay scales, grievance and discipline procedures, and more. The contents of the contract are decided and voted on by union members.

What are the benefits of a union?

There are lots! Individual union contracts cover specific issues, but almost every contract contains the following:

• Wages, raises, and benefits: the contract defines pay scales, annual raises, overtime, and additional benefits like health insurance. 
  
• Working conditions: ranging from mandatory safety precautions to scheduling rules to workplace environmental protections.
• Job security: seniority, job classifications, and layoff/contracting procedures.
• Right of representation: the right to have a union representative present during any meeting that could lead to disciplinary action (aka Weingarten Rights).
• “Just cause” employment: in a unionized workplace, you cannot be disciplined or terminated arbitrarily - you are no longer an “at-will” employee. Management must conclusively demonstrate just cause for any disciplinary action.
• Grievance policies and procedures: you have the right to file grievances over safety issues, discrimination, favoritism, violations of the contract by management, and other workplace issues. 
  

In short, a unionized workplace gives workers much more power, protection, and a voice on the job than a non-union workplace. 

Who can join the union?

Anyone who doesn’t have the power to hire, fire, or direct work at a managerial level is typically eligible to join the union. Since some positions might be in a gray area (i.e., some supervisors or leads in veterinary facilities), their eligibility will be determined at the bargaining table.