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Who Can Form a Union
Who Can Form a Union
"It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to...encourage the practice and procedure of collective bargaining and [to] protect... the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self-organization and designation of representatives of their own choosing, for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection."
�National Labor Relations Act
Librarians and support staff in public libraries have lagged behind other workers where union orgazining is concerned. Public employees in other department; police, fire, teachers and others have formed strong unions in the past 30 years. In many cities and towns, these groups have negotiated contracts giving them pay increases and other benefits on a regular basis.
Historically, librarians have been hesitant to make waves, have been less likely to stand up for their rights. They must be made aware that federal and state laws guarantee the right to form unions. Eligible employees* have the right to express their views on unions, to talk with their co-workers about their interest in forming a union, to attend union meetings and in many other ways to exercise their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association.
*Supervisors and a few other kinds of employees are often excluded from unions.
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