Steps in Launching a Union Organizing Campaign and Secret Ballot Representation Election

This document discusses the steps involved in launching a union organizing campaign and secret ballot representation election. It explains the importance of building an organization committee, adopting an issue program, winning the union election, and negotiating contracts. It also highlights the steps involved in a secret ballot representation election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.

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Author Note
Table of Contents

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Answer to question 1:.................................................................................................................2
Identification of steps involved in launching a union organizing campaign:............................2
Answer to question 1:.................................................................................................................3
Steps involved in a secret ballot representation election:..........................................................3
References list:...........................................................................................................................6

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Answer to question 1:
Identification of steps involved in launching a union organizing campaign:
Launching of a union organizing campaign involves few steps that are discussed
below:
1) Building an organization committee
The first step requires establishment of organization committee that represents all the
major shifts and department reflecting diversities in workforce. Such committee should have
an understanding about the right of workers and union policies. This step also calls for
gathering information such as employee and employer information and structure of
workplace (Tait, 2016).
2) Adoption of issue program
For the union election, a program of union demand is developed by the committee and
for union election campaign, a strategy is developed. The campaign activities are carried out
for highlighting issues program in workplace.
3) Winning the union election and signing up majority on union cards
In this step, a membership card is signed for supporting the union program and asking
workers to join the union election. Signing of a sizeable majority is the goal intended to
achieve in this step. Now, in order to hold election, the signed card is used to petition the
federal labor board. The person eligible for voting and scheduling the election is determined
by labor board. Employer should bargain and recognize the union if the union wins (Paret,
2015).
4) Contract negotiation

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The last step requires supporting the contract demand of union by mobilization of
workers. The demand of workers should be met by pressurizing the employer. The main goal
of the union campaign is to be achieved in the last step. All this requires sign and negotiate
with the employer, documenting the union, handling of disputes and uncovering of wages.
In terms of collective bargaining, there do not exist any meaningful differences,
however, there are some fundamental differences that was observed prior to rising of union in
public sector. Launching of union organizing campaign in private sector differs primarily due
to unequal negotiations between employee and employees, unequal bargaining power,
compensation and conditions. All these circumstances results in launching of union campaign
in private sector below the desired public standard (Kam, 2017).
Answer to question 1:
Steps involved in a secret ballot representation election:
 A secret ballot election is conducted by National Labor relation board when the filing
of petition is done. The process of initiating petition can be done by worker, union or
employer. When petition is filed by employer, it is not required to provide for reasons
and on other hand, if at least 30% of employees have signed the petition, then the
employees or union can sign the petition. The regulation board certifies the union as
bargaining representative of employees when the union represents the majority of
employee voting (Reed, 2016). No time table is provided by the board for holding
election.
 The next step calls for agreeing on the place and time for election and bargaining unit
composition after the petition requesting election is filed. The secret ballot election

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can also be agreed to be conducted on part of employer and union by third party such
as mediation board, arbitrator and clergyman.
 There might be holding of hearing in the regional office of National Labor relation
board if no agreement is reached between union and employer. Further, an election to
be held might be directed by regional director. The board might appeal to the decision
made by regional director.
 In the secret ballot, it is the choice of employees whether they intend to be represented
by labor union. The employee or union might challenge the right of an individual to
vote in election. The counting of ballot is determined by regional director if the
outcome of election is affected by the number of challenged ballots (Reed, 2016).

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References list:
Kam, C. (2017). The secret ballot and the market for votes at 19th-century British
elections. Comparative Political Studies, 50(5), 594-635.
Paret, M. (2015). Precarious labor politics: Unions and the struggles of the insecure working
class in the United States and South Africa. Critical Sociology, 41(4-5), 757-784.
Reed, D. C. (2016). Ballot Reform and the Decline of Third Parties in State
Legislatures. Representation, 52(2-3), 163-177.
Tait, V. (2016). Poor Worker's Unions: Rebuilding Labor from Below (Completely Revised
and Updated Edition). Haymarket Books.