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Interested in organizing a union in your workplace?

A union is simply a group of employees who join together for a voice in their workplace. When employees join together – “organize” – they increase their power. That’s what organizing a union is all about.
Having a union enables us to speak together in one strong voice. In addition, once you organize a union, your employer is required – by law – to bargain with you and your co-workers over your conditions of employment.

We in CWA can help. We are partnering with ver.di, the union that represents T-Mobile workers in Germany. Our purpose is helping workers like you to organize together so you have the power, like us, to negotiate good contracts, increase your standard of living, and have a real voice in the decisions about your workplace and job.

Experience tells us that it’s best when employees organize themselves. This is essential if you want to create a viable worker-led and inspired organization where you work. CWA organizers and staff can help. But it’s you, the employees, who must join together to create and build your union. Encourage your co-workers to become part of the TU forum right now at no charge.

Answers to some of your questions

1. How long will it take before we have a union? It depends on how effectively you can do the following:

• Build a committee of co-workers who want a union,
• Establish strong majority support, and
• Conduct a positive, issue-driven union organizing campaign. Depending on the size of your work unit, it can take anywhere from a few months to a year or more. In most cases, it takes several months.

2. What legal protection do I have?

Federal law, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), supports your right to form a union in your workplace. Without a union, employees have little or no legal protection.

3. What will our managers do when they find out we’re organizing?

Typically, employers launch anti-union campaigns. T-Mobile will probably say things like CWA and ver.di are outsiders or are 3rd party organizations. But the truth is that union members built this corporation and ver.di has represented workers at T-Mobile since its inception.

4. What about union dues and initiation fees?

CWA dues are usually 1.3% of your base pay – excluding overtime, bonuses, and differential pay. You begin paying dues after you vote to approve your first union contract – not when you vote to get a union. There are no initiation fees for newly organized units. And you and your co-workers can become part of the TU forum right now at no charge.

The first step is to get involved. Contact us for more information or to set up a confidential meeting.