Step-by-Step Guide to Forming a Union

Forming a Union

Workers seeking to form a union at their workplace should talk to their co-workers to build support about issues they are facing.  Often workers do this through forming an organizing committee.  Workers can contact an established union for support and guidance or they may seek to organize their own independent union.

A group of workers seeking to organize a union should gather union authorization cards/petitions from their co-workers to show support for forming a union.  Union authorization cards are documents that workers sign expressing their support for union representation.

Once organizers collect signed cards or petitions from their co-workers, there are generally two paths to follow to form a union:

Majority signup / Voluntary recognition

  • 1 A majority of employees in the bargaining unit sign cards/petitions seeking union representation
  • 2 Workers ask their employer to recognize the union voluntarily
  • 3 If the employer agrees, the union becomes the workers’ legal representative for purposes of collective bargaining and the parties begin bargaining
  • 4 If the employer refuses to recognize the union, workers can file a petition for an election with the NLRB

NLRB Election

  • 1 Have at least 30% of coworkers sign union authorization cards/petitions
  • 2 File a petition for a union election with the NLRB
  • 3 If the union wins 50% +1 of the vote, your employer must bargain in good faith over working conditions
Contact Your NLRB Regional Office for More Info