Union question, ya'll!

[xmas74]

I'm so proud! I never thought I'd get to ask this so...


My coworkers are sick and tired of how we are treated at work and are grumbling about contacting a union but don't know where to begin. I've tried to contact SEIU but have yet to hear back from them. Any other suggestions for employees in a cafeteria?

(Any other questions I will answer in pm.)

Thanks in advance!

[patrice]

1. Darn it! I'm trying to remember where I saw organizing kits to download online recently. It's late

and my brain is foggy.

Have you visited the SEIU website yet?

My guess is that there is a great deal of it you just do for yourself, studying what it means, what the bylaws are, getting people together, agreeing to organization and meetings etc. and then at some point you'd have to sign something official, with a union representative, that recognizes you are part of SEIU.

Did you look in the Labor forum here, to see if there are any SEIU members hanging out there?

[xmas74]

3. I used to be in AFSCME

so I'm not as familiar with SEIU. They have a website up dealing specifically with the corporation I work for so I figure they are the best to deal with. If it had been AFSCME I would know exactly who to contact.

I've looked around the site and have sent off a few emails over the past week but haven't heard back yet. I'd love to hear from other members on here since I'm not as familiar with them. I grew up with the UAW, Teamsters, and IAM in my family so I'm not sure about what SEIU really stands for.

[patrice]

6. Looking at SEIU website, it looks like they want you to take some training. I HOPE it's cheap!

[xmas74]

7. They've had problems with this corporation before

in another state. I had hoped to hear back from them sooner.

[patrice]

8. I bet you're going to have to be real assertive with them to get their attention right now. nt

[patrice]

2. Good Luck! Keep us posted, please!

[xmas74]

4. Thank you.

A few very unexpected people have been sounding off about it. The five cent raises and insurance priced out of our reach has burned them for far too long.

[patrice]

5. Looks as though you start with SEIU here:

http://www.seiu.org/a/organizers.php

[xmas74]

14. Thanks! nt

[provis99]

9. contact the Steelworkers' Union.

despite their name, they do not deal only with steelworkers, but all kinds of laborers. They are the most aggressive union out there in terms of protecting its members from management, and fighting for better working conditions.

[xmas74]

10. Thank you for the info. nt

[mrmpa]

11. Commercial Food Workers Union/Teamsters represent school cafeteria..

workers, Unite here is another one and the IWW is now in Starbucks.

[xmas74]

12. Thank you.

I contacted the SEIU because they were already representing others from the same corporation. (Workers in another state.)

Someone on here sent me a pm and is helping me. If I don't hear from them in a week I'll try others. I have to get this going now, strike while the iron is hot. If I don't I fear that my coworkers will become afraid and stop.

[xmas74]

13. UFCW was actually the first one I thought of calling

but then thought it was more processing/factory.

I might try them later. Thanks!