What does it mean to start a union?
James Williams
Updated on March 27, 2026
When you and your co-workers come together to form a union, you get the right to negotiate with your employer over wages, benefits and working conditions. No matter what the industry you are in, or the labor law that covers it, the process for forming a union is similar.
How do you start a union at your job?
How To Start a Union At Your Workplace in 7 Steps
- Step 1: Talk to Your Coworkers.
- Step 2: Talk to a Union Organizer.
- Step 3: Start a Committee.
- Step 4: Know Your Rights.
- Step 5: Sign Union Support Cards.
- Step 6: Vote!
- Step 7: Negotiate Your Contract.
Is starting a union illegal?
A union is a body that represents the interests of workers in a particular industry or occupation. All employees and independent contractors are free to choose to join or not join a union. It’s illegal for a person to pressure another person about their choice.
Do I have to tell my employer if I join a union?
You do not have to tell your employer if you are a member. Use our Union Finder tool to see which union is relevant to you. What are National Insurance and income tax? My employer says that work rights don’t apply to me because I’m a ‘worker’, not an ’employee’.
Can you start a union with any group of workers?
One can start a union with any group of workers, whether or not the company or the NLRB recognizes it. If one has enough members to cause the employer to change, then the union is strong, once again regardless of official status. Many unions historically were minority unions that effected change without seeking the blessing of the government.
What’s the first step in forming a union?
Your first goal after the election is to negotiate a union contract between the employer and the union, which covers everything from wages to how disputes will be handled in the future. If a bargain does not come easily, the union will need to put pressure on the employer to meet the union’s demands by mobilizing the employees.
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Why is it important to form a union?
Form a Union. Organizing a union in your workplace is about getting more rights and more power. Thousands of working people—all across the country and in all kinds of jobs—organize unions every year because unions are the best way to secure the things you care about.