The Union Difference America's 16.2 million union members represent a cross section of people -- women and men of all ages, races and ethnic groups. In New Jersey, our one million members work in hospitals, restaurants, nursing homes, auto assembly plants and on construction sites, trains, buses and airplanes. They are security guards, cooks, nurses, engineers, office workers, musicians, electricians, postal workers, janitors and more. New Jersey's Own: Union Member of the Century Albert Einstein, Time magazine's "Person of the Century" was a visionary scientist, philosopher, teacher -- and a union member. As a founding member of Princeton Federation of Teachers Local 552 he said: "I consider it important, indeed urgently necessary, for intellectual workers to get together, both to protect their own economic status and, also, generally speaking, to secure their influence in the political field."  Working people in all walks of life join together in unions to gain a voice at work. Union members have a say about pay, benefits, working conditions and how their jobs get done -- and having that say gives them a "union advantage." If you don't have a union at your job, find out more about how to form one. Today, more people are looking into joining unions than at any time in recent history. You can be one of them! Union: A union is an organization of workers joined together for a common purpose; for mutual aid and protection; for collective bargaining; for political action; for the elevation of their conditions of life and labor” Voice@Work: Joining a Union: It's Easy as one… two… three! STEP ONE: Know Your Rights It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to...encourag[e] the practice and procedure of collective bargaining and [to] protect... the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self-organization and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection. National Labor Relations Act Federal and state laws guarantee the right to form unions! Eligible employees have the right to express their views on unions, to talk with their co-workers about their interest in forming a union, to wear union buttons, to attend union meetings and in many other ways to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association. * Despite these laws, many employers strongly resist their employees' efforts to gain a voice at work through unionization. So, before you start talking union where you work, get in touch with a union that will help you organize. * Supervisors and a few other kinds of employees customarily are excluded from coverage. For more information, see specific laws covering your position or contact a union organizer as described below. STEP TWO: Find Out Which Union is Right for You To form a union on the job, you need the backup and hands-on help from the union you are seeking to join. If you don't already know which union is most able to help you, find out more about the unions affiliated with the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and/or the national AFL-CIO by visiting the websites or calling us (609-989-8730). Many of these websites enable you to contact the right person there directly to help you form a union. If you are unable to determine which of these unions is right for you, contact us at the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and let us know the type of work you do, the number of employees at your worksite and its location, and we'll send you names and phone numbers for the appropriate unions in your area. All information provided will be strictly confidential. STEP THREE: Get in Touch with a Union OrganizerUnion organizers assist employees in forming unions on the job to give them the same opportunity for dignity and respect, good wages and decent working conditions that union members already have. To get in touch with a union organizer, complete this form at the national AFL-CIO web site. It will not be transmitted or disclosed otherwise.Good luck! And don't hesitate to contact us if you have any problems or questions. Return to Top

Organizing a Union: Your Right at Work

You have a right BY LAW to safe, healthy and fair conditions at work. American law PROTECTS YOUR RIGHT: TO JOIN A LABOR UNION. Your employer may not retaliate against you for signing a card requesting union representation, for attending meetings to discuss joining a union, or for showing your support for union membership by wearing union buttons, shirts or other items. For more information about your right to join a union click Rights @ Work , or to contact a union organizer click Voice @ Work. TO A SAFE AND HEALTHY WORK ENVIRONMENT. For information on the Occupational Safety and Health Act that protects these rights, or if you have been injured at work and need help, click Safety @ Work. TO BE FULLY PAID FOR ALL HOURS YOU HAVE WORKED. Unless you are in a specially exempt category (like managers and salaried professionals) you are entitled to overtime pay of 1.5 times your standard rate of pay when you work more than 40 hours per week. For more information click Fair Labor Standards @ Work. TO UP TO TWELVE WEEKS OF UNPAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE to care for a newborn child or seriously ill family member, if you work for an employer with over 50 employees. For more information on these rights click Family and Medical Leave Act @ Work. TO A WORKPLACE FREE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT. Your employer must ensure that no employee is pressured for sexual favors or subjected to a hostile environment in order to keep his or her job. For more information click Stop Sexual Harassment @ Work. American law FORBIDS an employer from discrimination on the basis of: Age Gender Race or Ethnicity Religion Disability Pregnancy Support for a Labor Union If you have encountered any of these types of discrimination, or just want to get more information on your rights under the law, click Stop Discrimination @ Work.