Unions are always looking for new, dues-paying members, and you and your co-workers are prime targets. The union's first step in recruiting members is to get you to sign a union authorization card. So, we want you to have the facts about union authorization cards if you are ever approached by a union organizer.

What is a union authorization card?

A union authorization card is a legal and binding document that when signed gives the union the right to speak and bargain for you regarding your wages, hours, benefits and other terms and conditions of employment.

What should you know about union authorization cards?

You have the right to refuse to sign a card.

Union organizers have been known to make misrepresentations, false statements, empty promises and even threats to get you to sign a card. Threats or coercion from anyone attempting to get cards signed are unlawful.

Organizers have also been known to pressure and harass employees, at work and at home, to sign cards.

An organizer might also tell you that just signing the card is harmless, because you can still vote for or against unionization in the election. However, your signature on the card would be added to the signed cards to allow the union to gain a sufficient number of cards to be recognized as the bargaining agent for ALL employees in the bargaining unit WITHOUT even having a union election.

Anatomy of a union authorization card

Below is a sample of what a union authorization card might look like and what each section means.

Union organizers may tell you that signing a card will just get you more information or the opportunity for an election; but look closely. Nowhere on the card does it say that, by signing, you would be agreeing to give up your right to speak for yourself directly to management about your job. By obtaining your home address and telephone number, the union would be able to contact you at home. It might be literature, or bothersome phone calls at home. Or, it might be annoying union organizers coming in person, trying to get more information on Banner Health, and names and addresses of other associates that might sign cards. The union may ask for your job classification and current wage so the organizer can get a picture of how much Banner Health pays. No matter how much Banner Health pays employees, the organizer may promise more! If so, ask the organizer to guarantee that promise in writing and see what happens. Your signature on this legal and binding document is final. If you change your mind the union is under no obligation to return it. A signed authorization card is valid for one (1) year from the date you sign.

What happens if you sign a union card?

Right now, any signed authorization cards would be added to other signed cards and if the union has signed cards from a majority (50% + 1) of employees in the bargaining unit, then it can go to a health care system and demand to be recognized as the bargaining agent for all the employees in the bargaining unit.

If a health care system refuses (or only 30% of the employees in the bargaining unit have signed cards), the union can then file a petition for representation with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). A secret ballot election would be held allowing employees to vote on whether or not they want to be represented by the union.

However, unions are pushing Congress to change the law and take away employees' right to vote on union representation with new legislation, called the Employee Free Choice Act.