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Know Your Rights

Knowledge is Power. Your Rights are Protected by Law

The decision to form a union is a right, not just an idea. Federal law provides you and your coworkers with legal protections to organize for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. Understanding these rights is the first step toward building real power in your workplace. This page is a resource, but be sure to speak with an organizer for advice specific to your unique circumstances.

Your Fundamental Rights as a Worker

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) is a federal law that guarantees the right of most private-sector employees to organize, to engage in group efforts to improve their wages and working conditions, and to determine whether to have a union as their bargaining representative.

This is often called "Protected Concerted Activity." It means you have the legal right to act together with one or more coworkers for your mutual aid or protection.

Under the law, you have the right to:

Talk About and Form a Union:
You are free to talk to your coworkers about forming a union, sign union authorization cards, and attend meetings to build support for a union at your workplace.
Discuss Wages and Working Conditions:
You have the right to discuss your pay, benefits, and other job conditions with your coworkers. "Pay secrecy" policies are often illegal.
Distribute Union Literature:
You can distribute union information and flyers to your coworkers in non-work areas (like break rooms or parking lots) during non-work times (like breaks or before/after your shift).
Wear Union Support Items:
You have the right to wear union buttons, stickers, t-shirts, or other items to show your support.
Take Action with Coworkers:
You have the right to join with your coworkers to raise concerns directly with your employer about workplace issues, whether you have a union or not.

Your Organizing Rights in the Workplace

It is illegal for an employer to engage in activities that intimidate or retaliate against you for your union activity. They cannot interfere with your right to organize. This is known as an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP).

Remember the acronym TIPS—it is illegal for your employer to: Threaten, Interrogate, Promise, Spy.

If you believe your employer has done any of these things, document it immediately (who, what, when, where) and contact an organizer.

Threaten
Your employer cannot threaten you with losing your job, benefits, or other privileges if you support a union. They cannot threaten to close or move the workplace.
Interrogate
Your employer cannot ask you about your union membership, who attended meetings, or how you or your coworkers plan to vote in a union election.
Promise
Your employer cannot promise pay raises, promotions, or other special benefits in exchange for you voting against the union.
Spy
Your employer cannot spy on your union activities, either by attending meetings (even "secretly") or creating the impression that they are watching you and your coworkers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be fired for trying to start a union?
No. It is illegal for your employer to fire, demote, discipline, or otherwise retaliate against you for engaging in protected union activity. If they do, a union can help you file charges with the National Labor Relations Board to seek reinstatement and back pay.
Can our boss hold meetings to talk about the union?
Yes, employers can hold mandatory meetings to express their opinions about the union. However, they cannot use these meetings to threaten or interrogate employees. An organizer can prepare you for what to expect and how to respond with facts.
Do I have to tell my boss that I'm talking to a union?
Absolutely not. Your conversations with a union organizer and your coworkers are confidential. You are under no obligation to inform your employer about your organizing efforts.
What if I work in the public sector (for the city, state, or schools)?
Public sector workers in Ohio also have the right to form a union, but these rights are governed by state law (the Ohio Public Employee Collective Bargaining Act) rather than the NLRA. The core principles are very similar. Contacting an organizer is the best way to understand the specific rules that apply to your job.
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Don't Navigate This Alone.

This page is a guide, but an experienced organizer is your best defense. They have dealt with employer tactics before and can provide confidential advice tailored to your specific workplace and situation. Your conversation is protected.
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About Unionize CLE

UnionizeCLE.org is Greater Cleveland’s union organizing hub.
We are an initiative of the North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor, helping workers find union jobs or organize at their workplace to win fair pay, safer conditions, and the benefits and protections that come with union membership.

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