Union Authorization Cards

  The primary job of the Organizing Committee is to demonstrate that the UAW has the support of the majority of the workforce at Mercedes. We can accomplish this by asking our co-workers to sign union cards, authorizing the UAW to represent us in collective bargaining.
   No one is obligated to pay dues simply because he or she has signed a card, but the cards are an important tool in securing union recognition. Anyone who signs it should feel that he or she wants to join the UAW.
   To be considered valid, a union authorization card must have a signature and must be dated. Union authorization cards should be signed in the presence of the committee member collecting cards. Do not pass cards during working time. Union cards can be signed in the plant in non-work areas and during non-work time. Out of respect for the company, do not leave cards lying around the plant. The committee member who obtained the card should put their initials in the top corner of the card. Signed cards should be turned into your UAW organizer. 

   If we are successful in collecting signed cards from a majority of MBUSI workers, then we have a number of options to secure union recognition from Mercedes. The company could agree to recognize and bargain with the union based on the majority of signed cards we have collected; this is usually called "card check" recognition. Another option is a union election, supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. A third option is an election conducted by a neutral party such as a prominent community member or the American Arbitration Association.
   There are various ways to secure union recogition from the company. But they all start the same way: through concerted action by employees who want to build a union organization. The essential first steps are to build a large, representative committee, and to collect as many signed authorization cards as possible.

But I don't want anyone to know I've signed a card.

   No one will know you have signed a card except the VOC member that you requested it from if that is your wish. MBUSI does not know who has signed a card. If you would like to keep it strictly confidential, then you can call 507-0100 and arrange to meet someone from the UAW office and get a card to sign.