A Union Authorization Card is a card that authorizes the Union to negotiate with your Employer over your wages, hours and other conditions of work. If the required number of employees sign the cards the Union can ask the Employer to voluntarily recognize the Union. If the Employer refuses, the Union may then use the cards to petition for an election.

The Confidentiality of the Cards

These cards are kept absolutely confidential from your Employer either in a voluntary recognition process or in an election process.

How the Cards are Used in Voluntary Recognition

When an Employer chooses to voluntarily recognize the Union, the Employer and the Union agree to an impartial 3rd-party to verify that the number of people who signed authorization cards represents a majority of interested employees; once done, the parties immediately move to the process of collective bargaining.

How the Cards are Used in an Election Process

If the Employer refuses voluntary recognition, the cards are brought to the NLRB. The NLRB will schedule an election if a sufficient showing of interest for a Union is indicated by the cards. Voting takes place by secret ballot.

What Commitments are Made in Signing This Card?

Signing this card signifies that you are authorizing the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) to become your bargaining representative. Although the Union assumes your signature indicates support, signing a card does not commit you to voting for the Union in an election.

Does Signing the Card Relate to Dues?

Signing this authorization card does not authorize the Union to begin collecting dues. In fact, unless you choose otherwise, no dues will be collected until after the Union is recognized as the bargaining representative, after the bargaining of the first contract has been completed by an elected bargaining team, and after the contract has been ratified by majority vote.

By Signing this Card...

By signing this card, you will have taken part in meeting the challenge to establish a more responsive work environment for yourself and your co-workers. The signing of the authorization cards signifies a first step towards working together. We think that by having a collective voice we'll be able to bring about the changes necessary for creating a more balanced, productive, and cooperative, work environment.

This text was adopted from a leaflet authored by SEIU Local 790, AFL-CIO.