CIC ORGANIZING DEPARTMENT
Why organize?
By organizing, workers gain a stronger collective voice on the job. When we work together in a union, we can negotiate with employers from a position that allows us to improve our standard of living. That means decent wages, pensions, health benefits, and working conditions. Then our members and families can thrive in the industry and retire with dignity.
Facts show that in industries where a majority of the workers are unionized, workers enjoy higher wages and better benefits. Without a Union, workers are forced to negotiate individually with the boss. When a majority of workers are not organized, the competition for jobs has a downward pressure on everyone's wages, because companies are profit driven and they want to pay less.
If you are interested or know anyone who is interested in obtaining further information on your right to organize to better wages & benefits, working conditions, and respect and dignity on the job, contact the Carpenters Industrial Workers at (503) 228-0235 or email the Organizing Director (click here to email). The Council's organizers contact interested workers within total privacy. Read about what your employer cannot do should you begin an organizing campaign at your workplace.
The National Labor Relations Act outlines the rights of workers in Section 7:
"Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and shall also have the right to refrain from any or all such activities except to the extent that such right may be affected by an agreement requiring membership in a labor organization as a condition of employment as authorized in section 8(a)(3)."
Section 8(a)(1) of the National Labor Relations Act states:
"It shall be unfair labor practice for an employer to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of rights guaranteed by section 7."
Section 8(a)(3) of the Act:
Forbids an employer to discriminate against employees in regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment to encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization.
To read more about what your employer cannot do should you begin an organizing campaign at your workplace visit the NLRB by clicking on their emblem above. If you have questions about your rights, please contact the CIC Organizing Director for further information.