SELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVES

The law provides that you have a right to organize.  In fact, it is the policy of the United States to offer you every protection if you are even considering organizing.  your employer cannot interfere with your choice of the Teamsters.  The Act specifically provides that he cannot dominate a labor organization.  This means that he cannot sponsor a company or rival union.  He cannot ask you to sign a petition for or against any union.  If you refuse to sign such a petition, he cannot take any action against you.

There are two main methods by which labor unions are chosen to represent employees.  If a majority of the employees indicate (usually by signing authorization cards) that they want the Teamsters to represent them, the employer can voluntarily recognize the Teamsters.  The other method is to have the National Labor Relations Board conduct and election.  If a majority of the employees vote for the Teamsters, then the Teamsters are certified as the bargaining agent for all the employees.  And the important thing is that every election conducted by the Labor Board is by secret ballot.  No one, not your employer, your fellow employees, or even the union will know how you voted.

Your choice to have the Teamsters represent you is entirely up to you.  The law guarantees it.

SOME SUGGESTIONS

Throughout this site, we have outlined a few of the ways in which the law protects you because of your interest in and activities on behalf of the Teamsters.  If you do not openly express your support for unionization, the employer can claim that he wasn't even aware of your union activities.  This makes it more difficult for the law to protect you. It is up to you to prove that any discrimination was because of your interest in the union.  But, if you are very open about your interest in the Teamsters, if you talk about it on your work breaks, wear a Teamsters button, attend union meetings, and help to get your fellow employees signed up, then your employer cannot say that he was not aware of your union activities.

Belonging to the Teamsters is something of which you can be justly proud.  Over 2,000,000 men and women doing all types of work; office workers, plant workers, truck drivers, warehousemen, service employees, mechanics, airline employees, nurses and many others belong to the Teamsters and enjoy the benefits that only a strong union can obtain.  Openly sharing your interest in the Teamsters benefits you and your fellow employees, and it makes it much easier for the law to protect you.

Remember, the United States Government stands behind you when you join the Teamsters.