The employer’s campaign. In most cases, employers will use a variety of tactics to prevent you from organizing a union, many designed to create conflict, divide union supporters, and create an atmosphere of fear. Here are just some of the most widely used (and many illegal) tactics:

• Predicting layoffs or plant/office closings if you vote for union representation;
• Scaring employees with warnings of strikes or violence;
• Intimidating union supporters with unspoken threats of firings and or disciplinary action;
• §Labeling the union that you and your co-workers are attempting to organize as an “outside” organization or “third party” that will come in and make decisions for you and your co-workers.
• Making inaccurate and misleading statements about the union or union dues;
• Asking for another chance to improve working conditions:

What employers don’t want to talk about during their anti-union campaign are your concerns—those key workplace issues that you and your organizing committee identified as reasons why you want a union.

Strong majority support for a union is the best defense to successfully withstanding the employer’s campaign.

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If you and your coworkers are interested in forming a union, SMART will assist you in building majority support. Before contacting SMART, make sure that you have already begun talking with your co-workers about forming a union, identifying key workplace issues, and building an inside organizing committee.