What are union authorization cards?
Union authorization cards are written declarations, analogous to a “power of attorney,” that employees eligible for membership in a potential bargaining unit can choose to sign. These cards provide authority to a particular union to be their exclusive representative for the purpose of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment with their employer.
What does it mean to sign an authorization card?
A signature on the cards that the UE is distributing at Broad is declaring that an employee wants to be represented by the union and they’re requesting and accepting membership in the union. This means, among other things, that the employee is agreeing for the union to be established at Broad, and to be bound by the union’s constitution and bylaws — potentially without an election and without any further input from employees.
Signing the card is not merely an act of solidarity. Signing a card is more than a signal of support or a sign-up for an email list. Broadies are well-educated, highly skilled, and deeply engaged in the Broad community – and united in their support of Broad’s mission. Without doubt, Broadies who are eligible to sign union cards will think carefully about what this means, ask questions of both the national union and of management, and make informed decisions.
How can the union use the signed cards?
On August 25, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a decision that significantly changed the impact of signing a card. With this new NLRB decision, a union can use signed authorization cards as part of a process that can require an employer to recognize the union without an election ever being held. Previously, signed cards could be used by union organizers only to petition for an election or demand voluntary recognition by Broad.
Signatures on the authorization cards have major implications for the people who sign them, and can be used by the union to prevent employees from ever having a chance to vote in a formal election.
Broadies in the potential bargaining unit are free to sign cards or not. It’s important that you are informed about what it means to sign a card. You have the right to pause and take your time to research the implications before making a decision.
What do union authorization cards look like?
Union authorization cards typically appear in a note card or postcard sized format. The card usually requests information about the employee, such as the employee’s email, telephone, name, signature, date, employed by, city, state, zip code, occupation, building, shift and floor.
An online authorization card, publicly accessible on a UE website, also includes language such as this: “I hereby request and accept membership in the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), and authorize it to represent me, and on my behalf to negotiate and conclude all agreements as to hours of labor, wages, and all other conditions of employment.”
The language above is the type of declaration that generally appears in a dual purpose card.
Can union authorization cards be electronic?
Yes. The card may also appear in electronic form, typically as a survey, but it can also appear as a form required for employees to complete before joining a private Facebook page or private Slack channel or on a website that the employee has been invited to visit. It may also appear as an attachment to an email or text message or as a link to a private union website to complete the card.
Will Broad know if I signed a union authorization card?
Generally, no - but it depends on how the cards are used. During the organizing drive, when a union and union organizers are collecting signatures, only the union and union organizers can see who has signed union cards.
However, as described in the response to question 6, above, if the union and union organizers serve Broad with a “demand for recognition,” they might submit the signed authorization cards as their purported evidence that a majority of employees in the proposed bargaining unit want the union to represent them. If this happens, Broad will likely see who signed the cards.
Broad does not tolerate discrimination or retaliation in any form for any reason. Broad encourages all Broadies to know their rights and to uphold the central tenets of a free and fair legal process. Broad will not discriminate or retaliate against any Broadie because of their support for or against a union.
If I’ve already signed a union authorization card, can I ‘undo’ it?
Once an authorization card has been signed and returned to the union, it becomes a legal document and the union is under no obligation to return it to you – this is especially important for electronic cards, which can be processed (“returned to the union”) immediately.
Moreover, the union and union organizers can use the cards, without any notice to the signatories, as part of a “demand for recognition” sent to Broad or a “showing of interest” at the NLRB.
Some employees have asked us if they can “undo” a union authorization card that they have already signed. An employee can revoke their signed union authorization card by sending the national union a registered letter requesting revocation of their membership application.
Any U.S. post office should be able to assist in sending the letter by registered mail. If you wish, you may also let the employees who are leading the unionization effort here at Broad know by email. Please do not notify or copy any Broad manager or supervisor. Broad managers and supervisors do not want to know or be told whether any employee has signed or revoked a union authorization card. Broad managers and supervisors should not be copied on, made a party to, or given copies of any such communications to the union organizers.
Does the revocation have to include any specific language?
No. There is no specific legal language that must be included in the letter. The letter should just make clear that the employee is requesting to revoke their union authorization card, effective immediately.
To be effective, the revocation needs to take place before the union makes a demand for recognition that is predicated on the cards. Broad has no way to know when or whether such a demand may take place.
It is also important to remember that if this process proceeds beyond the organizing phase, eligible voters are free to vote however they want - yes or no - in the secret ballot election, regardless of whether they previously signed and submitted an authorization card to the union.
As a member of the proposed employee group, can I show support for the effort without signing a card?
Yes. You can attend information sessions, speak with organizers, and ask questions without signing the card. You can always sign a card later if you’d like.
Related: Broadies' questions (and answers) about unions and the process as well as petitions and elections.