{"id":54311,"date":"2024-05-10T15:47:53","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T15:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/?page_id=54311"},"modified":"2025-01-07T17:55:26","modified_gmt":"2025-01-07T17:55:26","slug":"frequently-asked-questions","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ufcw.org\/union-101\/frequently-asked-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Frequently Asked Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We know forming a union at your workplace can raise a lot of questions. <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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From learning the basics of what a union is exactly to understanding how to negotiate a union contract, there\u2019s a lot to learn! In this section, you can do your own research about common questions that arise about unions. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Have a question not featured here? Click here to talk to a union organizer!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What does a union do?<\/mark><\/a>
<\/mark>
<\/a><\/mark>Why should I start a union?
<\/mark><\/a>
<\/mark>Can anyone join a union? Who can unionize?
<\/mark><\/a>
<\/mark>What is the NLRB?
<\/mark><\/a>
<\/mark>What are the benefits of having a union?
<\/mark><\/a>
<\/mark>What is a Union Local?
<\/mark><\/a>
<\/mark>What is a union job? How do I get a union job?<\/mark><\/a>
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<\/mark>What are union dues?
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What is a Union?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n
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We believe that one good job should be enough, that all jobs should have dignity. You deserve a living wage and benefits that guarantee the health and happiness of you and your family. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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We believe that companies and their management teams should treat you with respect and make your safety their priority. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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But employers don\u2019t always share these beliefs \u2014 and when they don\u2019t, it impacts everyone involved with your work from supervisors to customers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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That\u2019s where having a labor union helps. When you and your co-workers come together to form a union, you have the ability to hold your employer accountable and ensure they will respect your voice. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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After you and your employers sign the dotted line of a union contract<\/strong><\/a>, the things that matter most \u2014 like benefits packages, workplace safety & fairness \u2014 all become contract components they are legally required to provide you. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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A union is all of us, standing up for each other, making work better, and ensuring everybody gets what they need. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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(This is also why the UFCW also participates in food drives like Stamp Out Hunger<\/strong><\/a>, and toy drives to benefit local charities.) <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What does a union do?<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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The reason you start a union is to protect what you love about your job and to improve the things you don\u2019t with a union contract, and a lot of what unions like UFCW do is make sure you win a strong contract and that you\u2019re able to uphold it at work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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UFCW gives us representation every step of this process: starting with bringing in pros who know how to write great contract language and work with employers to get as much of what we want as we can out of this process. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Once we win our contract, UFCW stays in our corner with service reps who stand up for us when our bosses violate the terms of that bargaining agreement. They also provide us with trainings to become shop stewards<\/strong> so we can stand up for each other in disputes. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Our union also provides us with legal services, workplace trainings, and more so we can grow and take care of ourselves and each other, at work and in the rest of our lives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Why should I start a union?<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Where do we even start?! The guaranteed benefits, job security, the sense of community, the power to make a difference, the improved quality of life, the ability to turn your job into a career…we could go on and on! Did you know? Studies show that on average, union workers make 28% more money than non-union workers in the same industry. That\u2019s the union difference! You can learn more about the union difference here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Can anyone join a union? Who can unionize?<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n
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UFCW is a private sector union, meaning we represent workers who aren\u2019t government employees \u2014 but if you are a government employee, we can also help direct you to the right place! The rules are simple: if two or more non-supervisory employees work at your company, and you don’t fall into one of these following categories, you have the right to form a union under the NLRA:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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