| District Lodge 90 Indianapolis, Indiana |
| 2006 IAM District Lodge 90 All Rights Reserved |
| Justice on the Job |
organize (or’ gan iz) vt. -ized’, -iz’ing - to get together for action, as the workers
organized; to bring together for action, as we organized a committee; to arrange
related parts into a unified whole, as to organize a union.
WHY ORGANIZE?
F A Q
The following Questions and Answers may help you decide if joining or forming a
union is right for you.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MACHINISTS UNION
Q. Who are the members of the Machinists Union?
A. Over a half million men and women who work in more than 350 job
classifications or industries, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor, in the
commercial, manufacturing, non-manufacturing, private, public, Federal, state and
local government sectors of our nation,s economy. They live in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the 10 provinces of Canada.
Although the Machinists Union began as a railroad union in 1888, today it has one
of the most diversified memberships of any organization of its kind.
Q. What are some major industries employing IAM members?
A. Aerospace, air transport and auto repair are three industries where the
Machinists Union is the largest, or among the largest, unions representing
employees. They work in occupations ranging from front office, computer,
clerical, medical and technical positions all the way to the shop floor as tool and
die makers, machinists, production, maintenance and security jobs.
Machinist Union members are also employed in metal products manufacturing
facilities, on the railroads, in the Federal, state and local government, and in
design, construction, repair, support, and maintenance work in an almost endless
variety of skills and occupational endeavors.
Q. Are most Machinists Union members actually machinists?
A. No. Originally, Machinists Union members were all skilled craftsmen. Today,
however, the union's membership includes, professional, office, clerical,
computer, technical, and medical employees, as well as journeymen and
apprentice craftpersons, helpers, production, maintenance and specialists of all
kinds. Membership includes women and workers from nearly all racial, ethnic,
and religious groups.
THE LAW
THE LAW - SAYS YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO JOIN A UNION
THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT SAYS:
Section 7:
"Employees shall have the right to self organization, to form, join, or assist labor
organizations, to bargain collectively through representation of their own
choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective
bargaining . . . "
Section 8(a):
"It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer . . . to interfere with, restrain,
or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 . . . "
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
You have the legal right under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act to
join or support a union and to:
1. Attend meetings to discuss joining a union.
2. Read, distribute, and discuss union literature (as long as you do this in non-
work areas, such as break rooms or parking lots, during non-work times, such as
during breaks or lunch hours.)
3. Wear union buttons, T-shirts, stickers, hats, or other items on the job.
4. Sign a petition or card asking your employer to recognize and bargain with the
union.
5. Sign petitions or file grievances related to wages, hours, working conditions,
and other job issues.
6. Ask other employees to support the union, to sign union petitions or cards, or
to file grievances.
PROTECTION FROM EMPLOYER ACTION
Under Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act, your employer cannot legally
punish or discriminate against any worker because of union activity.
For example, your employer cannot legally do the following:
- Threaten to or actually fire, lay off, discipline, harass, transfer, or reassign
employees because they support the union.
- Shut down the work site or take away any benefits or privileges employees
already enjoy in order to discourage union activity.
- Promise employees a pay increase, promotion, benefit, or special favor if they
oppose the union.
- Favor employees who don’t support the union over those who do in promotions,
job assignments, wages, hours, enforcement of rules, or any other working
condition.
ENFORCING YOUR RIGHTS
Some employers try to prevent the workers from joining a union.
The best way to encourage your employer to recognize your union and negotiate
a fair contract is to build a strong organization where you work.
If your employer violates the law, the union can help you file "unfair labor
practice" charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Labor Board has the power - backed up by the federal courts - to order an
employer to stop interfering with employee rights, to provide back pay, and to
reverse any action taken against workers for union activity.
YOU CAN HELP PROTECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS BY:
- Keep written notes of any incidents in which company officials or supervisors
threaten, harass, or punish workers because of union activity. Your notes don’t
have to be worded a certain way, but you should include what was said or done,
who was involved, where and when it happened, and the names of any witnesses.
- Immediately report any such incidents to your organizing committee and the
union staff.
Join the International Association of Machinists &
Aerospace Workers
organized; to bring together for action, as we organized a committee; to arrange
related parts into a unified whole, as to organize a union.
WHY ORGANIZE?
F A Q
The following Questions and Answers may help you decide if joining or forming a
union is right for you.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MACHINISTS UNION
Q. Who are the members of the Machinists Union?
A. Over a half million men and women who work in more than 350 job
classifications or industries, as defined by the U.S. Department of Labor, in the
commercial, manufacturing, non-manufacturing, private, public, Federal, state and
local government sectors of our nation,s economy. They live in all 50 states, the
District of Columbia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and the 10 provinces of Canada.
Although the Machinists Union began as a railroad union in 1888, today it has one
of the most diversified memberships of any organization of its kind.
Q. What are some major industries employing IAM members?
A. Aerospace, air transport and auto repair are three industries where the
Machinists Union is the largest, or among the largest, unions representing
employees. They work in occupations ranging from front office, computer,
clerical, medical and technical positions all the way to the shop floor as tool and
die makers, machinists, production, maintenance and security jobs.
Machinist Union members are also employed in metal products manufacturing
facilities, on the railroads, in the Federal, state and local government, and in
design, construction, repair, support, and maintenance work in an almost endless
variety of skills and occupational endeavors.
Q. Are most Machinists Union members actually machinists?
A. No. Originally, Machinists Union members were all skilled craftsmen. Today,
however, the union's membership includes, professional, office, clerical,
computer, technical, and medical employees, as well as journeymen and
apprentice craftpersons, helpers, production, maintenance and specialists of all
kinds. Membership includes women and workers from nearly all racial, ethnic,
and religious groups.
THE LAW
THE LAW - SAYS YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO JOIN A UNION
THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT SAYS:
Section 7:
"Employees shall have the right to self organization, to form, join, or assist labor
organizations, to bargain collectively through representation of their own
choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective
bargaining . . . "
Section 8(a):
"It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer . . . to interfere with, restrain,
or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in Section 7 . . . "
YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS
You have the legal right under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act to
join or support a union and to:
1. Attend meetings to discuss joining a union.
2. Read, distribute, and discuss union literature (as long as you do this in non-
work areas, such as break rooms or parking lots, during non-work times, such as
during breaks or lunch hours.)
3. Wear union buttons, T-shirts, stickers, hats, or other items on the job.
4. Sign a petition or card asking your employer to recognize and bargain with the
union.
5. Sign petitions or file grievances related to wages, hours, working conditions,
and other job issues.
6. Ask other employees to support the union, to sign union petitions or cards, or
to file grievances.
PROTECTION FROM EMPLOYER ACTION
Under Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act, your employer cannot legally
punish or discriminate against any worker because of union activity.
For example, your employer cannot legally do the following:
- Threaten to or actually fire, lay off, discipline, harass, transfer, or reassign
employees because they support the union.
- Shut down the work site or take away any benefits or privileges employees
already enjoy in order to discourage union activity.
- Promise employees a pay increase, promotion, benefit, or special favor if they
oppose the union.
- Favor employees who don’t support the union over those who do in promotions,
job assignments, wages, hours, enforcement of rules, or any other working
condition.
ENFORCING YOUR RIGHTS
Some employers try to prevent the workers from joining a union.
The best way to encourage your employer to recognize your union and negotiate
a fair contract is to build a strong organization where you work.
If your employer violates the law, the union can help you file "unfair labor
practice" charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Labor Board has the power - backed up by the federal courts - to order an
employer to stop interfering with employee rights, to provide back pay, and to
reverse any action taken against workers for union activity.
YOU CAN HELP PROTECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS BY:
- Keep written notes of any incidents in which company officials or supervisors
threaten, harass, or punish workers because of union activity. Your notes don’t
have to be worded a certain way, but you should include what was said or done,
who was involved, where and when it happened, and the names of any witnesses.
- Immediately report any such incidents to your organizing committee and the
union staff.
Join the International Association of Machinists &
Aerospace Workers
