Participate in meetings to discuss joining a union.

Distribute, read, and discuss union literature (in non-work areas, during breaks and lunch time).

Wear union buttons, stickers, t-shirts, and hats to show support for the union.

Sign a UE membership card and demand union recognition.

Circulate and sign petitions.

Join together in other activities to protest unfair treatment or demand improvements in wages, hours and working conditions.

Organize other employees to support the union, sign union cards, or to file grievances.

These rights are protected by Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (and similar state laws), which gives you the right to join or support a union.

Fire or threaten to fire, layoff, discipline, harass, transfer, or reassign an employee because they support the union.

Favor employees who don’t support the union over those that do in promotions, hours, enforcement of rules or any other conditions.

Close or threaten to close your place of employment or take away benefits or privileges in order to discourage union activity.

Promise employees a pay increase, promotion, benefit or special favor if they oppose the union.

Ask your opinion of the union.

Under Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act (and similar state laws) it is illegal for your boss to commit any of the acts listed above.

This useful article from Facing South, “50 Years is Enough: NC public workers lobby for collective bargaining rights,” gives an overview of the struggle to overturn NCGS 95-98, the law that prohibits NC public sector workers from collective bargaining, including its origins in racist Jim Crow policies, making NCGS 95-98 “North Carolina’s last Jim Crow law.”

UE Local 150 has information about collective bargaining and workers’ rights in North Carolina.