Union Organizing Information
This area contains general information and FAQ about union organizing.
If you have any questions please contact the Public Information Officer of the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board at (312) 793-3170 or visit http://www2.illinois.gov/elrb/Pages/default.aspx.
Sample Questions:
Do employees have the right to vote in an election before a union is certified?
Not necessarily. Illinois law allows for certification of a union through either an election or by a "card check" procedure whereby a union demonstrates to the Labor Board that it has a "majority interest" of employees in the proposed bargaining unit. Such majority interest may be shown by the union producing a petition, dues deduction authorization cards, or similar documents signed by a majority of employees in the proposed bargaining unit. If you are presented with a petition, card, or document from a potential Union, read it carefully, and if you sign it, understand what you are agreeing to. You can see an example here.
Are employees "voting" for a union if they sign union authorization petition, card, or document?
Yes, if a union chooses to submit such petition, card, or document as proof of support for the certification of a union, they can do so without an election. Illinois law permits unions to be certified by the Labor Board based on verification that more than 50 percent of bargaining unit members have signed such union authorization petitions, cards, or documents.