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•F
A Q
•The
Law
•Join
organize (or’ gan iz)
vt. -ized’, -iz’ing - to get together for action, as the
workers organized; to bring together for action, as we
organized a committee; to arrange related parts into a
unified whole, as to organize a union.
WHY ORGANIZE
F A Q
The following Questions and Answers may help you decide
if joining or forming a union is right for you.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MACHINISTS UNION
Q. Who are the members of the Machinists Union?
A. Over a half million men and women who work in more
than 350 job classifications or industries, as defined
by the U.S. Department of Labor, in the commercial,
manufacturing, non-manufacturing, private, public,
Federal, state and local government sectors of our
nation,s economy. They live in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the 10
provinces of Canada. Although the Machinists Union began
as a railroad union in 1888, today it has one of the
most diversified memberships of any organization of its
kind.
Q. What are some major industries employing IAM members?
A. Aerospace, air transport and auto repair are three
industries where the Machinists Union is the largest, or
among the largest, unions representing employees. They
work in occupations ranging from front office, computer,
clerical, medical and technical positions all the way to
the shop floor as tool and die makers, machinists,
production, maintenance and security jobs.
Machinist Union members are also employed in metal
products manufacturing facilities, on the railroads, in
the Federal, state and local government, and in design,
construction, repair, support, and maintenance work in
an almost endless variety of skills and occupational
endeavors.
Q. Are most Machinists Union members actually
machinists?
A. No. Originally, Machinists Union members were all
skilled craftsmen. Today, however, the union's
membership includes, professional, office, clerical,
computer, technical, and medical employees, as well as
journeymen and apprentice craftpersons, helpers,
production, maintenance and specialists of all kinds.
Membership includes women and workers from nearly all
racial, ethnic, and religious groups.
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THE LAW
THE LAW - SAYS YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO JOIN A UNION
THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT SAYS:
Section 7:
"Employees shall have the right to self organization, to
form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain
collectively through representation of their own
choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities
for the purpose of collective bargaining . . . "
Section 8(a):
"It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer .
. . to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in
the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 . . .
"
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
You have the legal right under Section 7 of the National
Labor Relations Act to join or support a union and to:
1. Attend meetings to discuss joining a union.
2. Read, distribute, and discuss union literature (as
long as you do this in non-work areas, such as break
rooms or parking lots, during non-work times, such as
during breaks or lunch hours.)
3. Wear union buttons, T-shirts, stickers, hats, or
other items on the job.
4. Sign a petition or card asking your employer to
recognize and bargain with the union.
5. Sign petitions or file grievances related to wages,
hours, working conditions, and other job issues.
6. Ask other employees to support the union, to sign
union petitions or cards, or to file grievances.
PROTECTION FROM EMPLOYER ACTION
Under Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act,
your employer cannot legally punish or discriminate
against any worker because of union activity.
For example, your employer cannot legally do the
following:
- Threaten to or actually fire, lay off, discipline,
harass, transfer, or reassign employees because they
support the union.
- Shut down the work site or take away any benefits or
privileges employees already enjoy in order to
discourage union activity.
- Promise employees a pay increase, promotion, benefit,
or special favor if they oppose the union.
- Favor employees who don’t support the union over those
who do in promotions, job assignments, wages, hours,
enforcement of rules, or any other working condition.
ENFORCING YOUR RIGHTS
Some employers try to prevent the workers from joining a
union.
The best way to encourage your employer to recognize
your union and negotiate a fair contract is to build a
strong organization where you work.
If your employer violates the law, the union can help
you file "unfair labor practice" charges with the
National Labor Relations Board.
The Labor Board has the power - backed up by the federal
courts - to order an employer to stop interfering with
employee rights, to provide back pay, and to reverse any
action taken against workers for union activity.
YOU CAN HELP PROTECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS BY:
- Keep written notes of any incidents in which company
officials or supervisors threaten, harass, or punish
workers because of union activity. Your notes don’t have
to be worded a certain way, but you should include what
was said or done, who was involved, where and when it
happened, and the names of any witnesses.
- Immediately report any such incidents to your
organizing committee and the union staff.
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To send this form by postal mail or to contact IAM
District 165 by mail please write to:
Main Office
1903 4th Street North
St. Cloud, MN 56303
Or Telephone
Phone: 1-320-252-4654 or
1-800-258-3735
Or Fax
320-252-1002
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