A Quick Study of How Unions Help Workers Win a Voice on the Job

What is a union?

A union is a group of workers who form an organization to gain:

• Respect on the job,
• Better wages and benefits,
• More flexibility for work and family needs,
• A counterbalance to the unchecked power of employers, and
• A voice in improving the quality of their products and services.

How do people form a union?

When workers decide they want to come together to improve their jobs, they work with a union to help them form their own local chapter. Once a majority of workers shows they want a union, sometimes employers honor the workers’ choice. Often, the workers must ask the government to hold an election. If the workers win their union, they negotiate a contract with the employer that spells out each party’s rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

Does the law protect workers joining unions?

It’s supposed to—but too often it doesn’t. Under the law, employers are not allowed to discriminate against or fire workers for choosing to join a union. For example, it’s illegal for employers to threaten to shut down their businesses or to fire employees or take away benefits if workers form a union. However, employers routinely violate these laws, and the penalties are weak or nonexistent.

What kinds of workers are forming unions today?

A wider range of people than ever before, including many women and immigrants, is joining unions—doctors and nurses, poultry workers and graduate employees, home health care aides and wireless communications workers, auto parts workers and engineers, to name a few.

How do unions help working families today?

Through unions, workers win better wages, benefits and a voice on the job—and good union jobs mean stronger communities. Union workers earn 30 percent more than nonunion workers and are more likely to receive health care and pension benefits than those without a union. In 2007, median weekly earnings for full-time union wage and salary workers were $863, compared with $663 for their nonunion counterparts. Unions lead the fight today for better lives for working people, such as through expanded family and medical leave, improved safety and health protections and fair-trade agreements that lift the standard of living for workers all over the world.

What have unions accomplished for all workers?

Unions have made life better for all working Americans by helping to pass laws ending child labor, establishing the eight-hour day, protecting workers’ safety and health and helping create Social Security, unemployment insurance and the minimum wage, for example. Unions are continuing the fight today to improve life for all working families in America.

What challenges do workers face today when they want to form unions?

Today, thousands of workers want to join unions. The wisest employers understand that when workers form unions, their companies also benefit. But most employers fight workers’ efforts to come together by intimidating, harassing and threatening them. In response, workers are reaching out to their communities for help exercising their freedom to improve their lives.

CWA History:

The Communications Workers of America is a young union that was founded in New Orleans in 1938. CWA is the largest telecommunications union in the world representing over 700,000 workers. CWA members are employed in the telecommunications industry, printing and news media, public services, health care, cable TV, general manufacturing, sounds and electronics, and utilities.

The CWA Triangle symbolizes the three main programs of the union: Organizing, Representation, Community and Political Action. The philosophy behind the triangle is all three sides have to stand together in order to work. One can never stand alone. Therefore a united union is a strong union that keeps going on the dedication of its members.

NABET History

“NABET-CWA your Union” has been the theme of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians almost from its inception in 1934. NABET began its history of representing employees in Broadcasting (Television, Radio, Film and Production) at what was then called the “Red” and “Blue” networks, now ABC and NBC. At that time NABET’s (then ATE, the Association of Technical Employees) first contract provided $175.00 per month and 48-hour work week. In 1937 NABET expanded, covering independent radio and television stations, and in 1939 achieved a union shop clause.

In 1940 came the name change from ATE to NABET, and in 1941 the first 8 hour day, and NABET grew to 23 independent contracts. In 1951, NABET affiliated with the CIO, followed in 1952 by the Canadians joining NABET. By 1960 NABET’s independent contracts grew to 100. In 1965, came the first film local. In 1968 the Canadians achieved local autonomy followed in 1974 by full autonomy. In 1993, NABET affiliated with the Communications Workers of America, followed in 1994 with a full merger, which resulted in the new name NABET-CWA.

Over the years, NABET has fought for and won benefits and wages for its represented members, which include a union shop, 8-hour work days, vacations, holidays, sick leave, insurance, overtime pay, pension plans, seniority, grievance and arbitration, safety and health. NABET is proud of its fine tradition of democracy and the servicing of its members by officers and staff whose roots are in the industry it now serves.

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  The next Executive Board meeting is Tuesday, October 12 2010, at 6:30 PM, at the Local Office. All Local 31 members are welcome.