How to join a union ✊

Hey! This might be the wildest job posting we’ve ever seen: The CEO of Zomato, a $28 billion Indian food delivery company, is hiring a Chief of Staff. 

The kicker? There's no salary—in fact, you’ll owe $24,000 to charity in your first year on the job. But the even wilder part? Over 10,000 people have applied. 😶 Would you?

How to Join a Union (or Form One Yourself)

Remember Hot Labor Summer? ☀️

Back in the summer of 2023, unions nationwide, from Starbucks Workers United to Hollywood’s SAG-AFTRA, cranked up the heat and fought for fair pay, better working conditions, and a seat at the table.

What started as a seasonal wave is now a year-round movement. Unions are gaining steam: Petitions for union representation have doubled since 2021, and 70% of Americans approve of labor unions, a near-record high. 

And it’s not hard to see why. Who wouldn’t want to be part of an organized group that protects workers’ rights, fights pay discrimination, negotiates on their behalf, and provides top-notch benefits? 

Not to mention, they offer some of the highest-paying trade jobs out there, from electricians earning $117.55 an hour to insulators making $64.23 an hour.

If you’re nodding along wondering, “How can I join a union?” or “Scratch that—how do I start one!?” you’re in the right place. Here’s the blueprint: 

How to join a union 🪧

There are three main ways to join a union: 

1. Join a local union chapter 

2. Get a job at a company affiliated with a union 

3. Form a union at your workplace

Let’s zoom in on each. ⤵

Option 1) Join a local union chapter 

Local unions are regional branches of larger national or international labor unions. They represent workers in specific geographic areas or trade groups. For example: 

• The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has 831 local chapters around the US and Canada. (To learn more about how to become an electrician and join their union, watch our interviews from the IBEW’s International Women’s Conference!)

• The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) represents over 500,000 members in the construction and energy sectors. 

To get started, Google “local [your industry] unions in my city.” From there, reach out to your local chapter about membership requirements, the application process, and any required documentation. 

Option 2) Get a job at a company affiliated with a union 

Luckily, union-affiliated companies are easy to find—these job boards list roles exclusively at unionized companies: 

• Union Hiring Hall

• Union Jobs Clearinghouse 

Option 3) Form a union at your workplace 

Does your current job not have a union? Don’t worry—you likely have the right to form one under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). There are two ways to go about this: 

1. National Labor Relations Board Election → You and your coworkers file a request with the NLRB to hold a vote. If the majority votes “yes,” your union is good to go. 

2. Majority Signup or Voluntary Recognition → Have the majority of your coworkers sign union authorization cards. Then, show the cards to your employer to ask them to recognize the union. If they say yes, you can begin bargaining. And if they say no? Time to file for an NLRB election.

Both paths involve contacting a union organizer (you can find one with AFL-CIO!) to help you get started. 

What about union busting? 

There’s a chance your employer might have a…mixed reaction to your unionizing efforts. What if they threaten retaliation or deploy union-busting tactics?  

Our article covers the best path to handle a union-busting employer…plus a ton more. Learn how to protect yourself and make your union efforts successful. 🙌

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We love making Two Cents for all of you, and this week’s episode is an especially timely one: The 2024 election is over. Now what? 💭

In this episode of Two Cents, James and I explore what the election results might mean for our wallets, particularly with tariffs, taxes, housing, and jobs. 

From which items might become more expensive to how mortgage rates are changing, we’re covering it all so you’re prepared for these next four years. 💚

• MIT will offer free tuition. 🙌 Starting next fall, undergraduates from families earning less than $200,000 won’t pay tuition, and those from families earning less than $100,000 will have additional costs like housing and dining covered. A major win considering MIT costs $85,960 a year (yes, really). 

• The US faces a blue-collar worker shortage. 👷 Translation? More trade jobs, such as power plant operators and elevator technicians, are paying over $100K without requiring a degree. Get the full list of in-demand trade jobs here! 

• Private equity is making hospice care worse. 🏥 New research shows private equity-owned hospices fall short of patient respect and symptom management. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the “Senior Care Scare” (here’s the full story). 

• The ideal salary according to Americans? $270K. 💰Americans say a $270K salary—or a net worth of $5.3 million—is how you know you’ve reached “financial success.” Considering the average American’s annual salary is $67,000, do you agree or disagree? Let us know how much you make here!

One last thing! ICYMI: New Jersey (and four other states) are joining the pay transparency club next year! 🙌 

Not sure where your state stands? Explore our map for the full rundown of pay transparency laws across all 50 states.

Thanks for reading, we’ll see you next week!

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