Organizing
Why is Union Membership an Advantage?
Since its original founding in1939, UFCW Local 464A has grown to represent nearly 20,000 members throughout New Jersey, New York and a portion of Pennsylvania. This growth is no accident. It has been achieved through concerted organizing efforts that tout the considerable advantages only union membership can deliver. These advantages, supported by research, include:
- Wages and benefits that are more than 25% higher than non-union members
- Health care covering more than 80% of union members compared to just 50% of non-union members…and at far lower cost
- Guaranteed defined benefit pensions covering nearly 75% of union retirees compared to less than 20% of non-union retirees
In addition to better wages, health care and pensions union membership provides a higher standard of living with improved benefits such as paid leave for medical and family needs, vacations and holidays. Finally, and perhaps most important, are the improved safety standards and overall working conditions that unions have fought for and won.
Why Organize?
The same research mentioned above has shown that even non-union workers in industries that have some union organization are paid more than their fellow workers in completely non-unionized industries. But they still lag far behind the earnings and benefits of union members. That is why it is so important to organize more workplaces and add more members. When workers are represented employers are required by law to negotiate – to bargain in good faith. Unions have power and everyone benefits!
What you can do!
There are several actions you can take to help your Local Union add members and broaden its strength on your behalf:
- Get the facts – The statistics cited above are just the top of the waves, check Links for access to web sites with added information on the advantages of Unions, see also Your Rights
- Spread the word – If you know of workplaces and workers who are not organized seek them out and tell them the facts – urge them to organize
- Alert Local 464A – Contact Cesar Alarcon, Director of Organizing at ufcw464a@erols.com or call him at 973.256.6790 – he is an expert and he can help you to help our fellow workers
Membership in UFCW Local 464A means a better working life!
Your Rights
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is a federal law that guarantees your rights as a worker. The NLRA also established the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB conducts elections for labor union representation and investigates unfair labor practices. Section 7 of the Act states that:
”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 or other mutual aid or protection…"
This means:
- You have the legal right to help organize and to participate in a Union
- To sign a Union authorization card, urge others to sign cards, attend Union meetings, wear Union buttons, distribute Union literature and converse about Unions with other employees
- You have the right to negotiate or bargain as a group with your employer for a mutually agreed contract
It does not permit:
- You to pursue Union activities during working hours
The NLRA forbids employers from interfering with, restraining, or coercing (forcing) employees from exercising their rights to organize, form, join or assist a labor organization for collective bargaining purposes. Examples of unlawful employer conduct include:
- Threatening employees with job or benefits loss if they join or vote for a Union
- Threatening to close the plant or business workplace if employees engage Union representation
- Questioning employees about Union activities that tends to interfere with the employees’ rights under the Act
- Promising benefits to discourage employee Union support
- Terminating, laying off, transferring, assigning more difficult work or punishing employees for engaging in a Union
- Terminating, laying off, transferring, assigning more difficult work or punishing employees for filing an unfair labor practice charge or participating in an investigation conducted by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)