Fundamentals of Human Resource Management, 5/e

The Union Drive and Election

Learning Objective 4

1. Describe the process of a union drive and election.

It is through the union drive and election that a union tries to be recognized to represent employees. This process has five basic steps: initial contact, authorization cards, hearing, campaign, and election. 32

Step 1: Initial Contact

During the initial contact stage, the union determines the employees’ interest in organizing, and establishes an organizing committee.

The initiative for the first contact between the employees and the union may come from the employees, from a union already representing other employees of the firm, or from a union representing workers elsewhere. Sometimes a union effort starts with a disgruntled employee ...