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If anyone needs advice on starting a union at your workplace, I'm an experienced organizer and more than willing to help!
I'm open. I have a small, local business with 8 employees. I take a $1/yr salary and no profit distributions. Everything goes back to employees right now (including benefits being paid for). If we have a bad month, I just cover everything with my own money.
That said, it seems like the idea of being unionized would improve morale so I'm all for it. I just don't know where to start.
Per another thread, foregoing a union in lieu of an ESOP would be better - which I'm also all for. Just open to any feedback.
Unfortunately as the owner, you're not legally allowed to encourage your employees to unionize. Something else to consider as another option: you do have the power to convert your business into a worker cooperative
Seems like a nobrainer in that guy's case. They already pretty much earn all the money. Why not let them have a say in governance?
I'm about to start working as a short-term intern at a company (6 months) and I know I like unions because one of my previous internship employers was 100% union employees including me. How to proceed on my first day? Also, I was a short-term employee (3 months) as a teaching assistant (aka supervising students) at the college where I study. Does it make more sense to unionize the students (Student-Alumni Union) or unionize the student workers?
If you want to start an union at a place where there's not one, your first move has to be getting a feel of where everyone's attitudes are towards the company. Ask them how work is going, what kind of person is the boss or manager, if they like their position and conditions, and so on. Invite them to speak more about their feelings, impressions and grievances more than anything else. This allows you to draw a mental map of who would be more willing to help you get it started, gives you a good idea of what the needs and aspirations of the people you're working with are, and lets you come across as someone who actually cares for their working conditions.