Our Guild protections

As a union, we all have each other’s backs. Taking part in collective action in support of contract negotiations is our legal right, and it is unlawful for the company to try to interfere with that right.

Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act guarantees workers "the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.”

Section 8(a)(1) of the NLRA makes it an unfair labor practice for an employer "to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of” their Section 7 rights to take part in concerted activity.

When is management breaking the law?

Remember SPIT: Surveillance, Promises, Interference and Threats. Management cannot …

  • Spy on employees’ Guild activities or even create the impression of surveilling union activities.

  • Take photos or record people engaged in peaceful union activities.

  • Promise benefits if workers reject the union.

  • Prohibit workers from wearing Guild buttons, shirts or other union materials in most cases.

  • Make or enforce rules that reasonably tend to inhibit workers from exercising their NLRA rights.

  • Threaten employees with adverse consequences such as more onerous working conditions if they support the Guild or participate in union activity.

  • Use threatening or intimidating language aimed at influencing people against participating in Guild activities.

  • Discharge, discipline, or take any other adverse action against employees because of their protected concerted activity.

What should I do if a manager tries to question me about Guild actions? 

After the conversation, while it’s fresh in your memory, write as much as you can remember — when and where the conversation took place, who was there, what was said. Then reach out to your Guild steward or a Unit Council member about taking action, such as filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the NLRB. 

Retaliation for participating in Guild activities is illegal; as a union, we’ll always stand up for ourselves.