For many of you, this may be the first time that you have been involved in a union organizing campaign. The first time doing anything can lead to questions. So we thought we would provide you with some information that may be helpful.
Employees who support the union and those who oppose the union representing them here at the university have the same rights, neither greater than the other. Ideally, everyone will respect each other’s rights on this topic just as we respect each other’s rights on any other topic.
You have the following rights:
- You do not have to speak with colleagues about the union in the workplace, in a break room or on or off campus.
- You do not have to speak with union representatives, either on or off campus, at your home or on the phone.
- You do not have to let colleagues or union representatives into your home.
- You do not have to attend a union meeting anywhere or at any time.
- You do not have to sign a union card or any other document or participate in any surveys.
- If you do sign a union card and change your mind, you have a right to ask the union to return your card.
- You do not have to give in to peer pressure or “follow the crowd,” and you can always tell someone “I want to think about this.”
- You do not have to give your personal information — home address, phone numbers, email address — to anyone connected with the union. (The union asked the university for everyone’s off-campus contact information even though the law is clear that the union is not entitled to that information now. We told them “No.” The university respects your privacy.)
- You can tell your colleagues (verbally or with printed documents, social media, videos, etc.) that you are not interested in union representation and why.
We hope this listing is helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to speak with your Human Resources Partner.
—Kathy Neils,
Chief Human Resources Officer
Read more in Your Voice Matters, a series of communications from university leadership to provide clarity about efforts to unionize UNH staff.
