It is your legally protected right to organize and form a union. The National Labor Relations Act clearly states: “Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, to join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.” And the State Labor Relations Act contains similar language to protect state employees.
It is illegal for an employer to stand in the way of employees exercising their rights to organize. Your rights are clear. Management cannot lawfully:
- Fire, threaten to fire, discriminate against, or punish employees in any way for union activity
- Bar employees from discussing the union with co-workers during non-working hours
- Ask employees about the union, union meetings, or any other questions pertaining
to the organizing and administration of your union - Coerce employees by changing or threatening to change wages, hours of work, shifts, overtime or any other conditions of work
If these rights have been violated at your workplace, please report this immediately by contacting your shop steward or our AFSCME Maryland offices at 410-547-1515 or [email protected].