Local 1496 - The Most Northern and Western UFCW Local in the World!

Your rights to form and join a labor union are protected under the National Labor Relations Act.

If your place of work is not covered by a union contract, you have no guarantee that the employer will comply with all the rights and protections provided you under federal and state laws.

What if your paycheck was improperly calculated?
What if you were unfairly discriminated against?

Workers with a union have on-site representation and an organization standing beside them when problems arise. They also have much more than the minimum guarantees of federal and state laws.  They have better wages, better pensions, better health insurance, and a way of correcting inappropriate managerial actions.

How do I form a union where I work?

You can organize your workplace when you and a majority of your co-workers decide you want a union.  Typically, workers sign authorization cards telling the union they want it to represent them and to bargain a contract for them.

Sometimes an employer will officially "recognize" the union when it sees that clear majority of its employees want a union.  The employer will then agree to negotiate a contract with its workers.

More often, a union must petition the federal government's National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for an election to determine if a majority of the workers desire union representation.  The NLRB then conducts an impartial, secret ballot election.  If the union wins the election, the way is paved for bargaining to begin with the employer.

UFCW Local 1496 is committed to helping those who wish to bring positive changes to their lives by joining a union.  Call us at 1-800-478-1496 for more information on how you can join a union.

Your Rights to Organize a Union are Protected by Federal Law

Many workers do not realize that they have rights protected by law under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).  This law was enacted in 1935 and provides certain guarantees to workers to form and join a union. The act also sets guidelines for both the workers and the employer to follow to ensure that all parties are treated fairly.  The federal agency which administers the act is the National labor Relations Board (NLRB).  Their Anchorage office in the Federal Building services the state of Alaska.

Without the National Labor Relations Act and the NLRB to enforce it, workers and unions in Alaska would have a much harder time organizing.  Employers would be more likely to unfairly treat workers and unions when they have chosen to organize.

The National Labor Relations Act states:

It is hereby declared to be the policy of the United States to encourage the practice and procedure of collective bargaining and to protect the exercise by workers of full freedom of association, self-organization, and designation of representative of their choosing, for purposes of negotiating the terms and conditions of their employment or other mutual aid or protection.

Do you know someone who could benefit from having a union at their workplace? Let them know they have the right to join a union.  They can contact our organizing department for more information.  Call 258-1496 or 1-800-478-1496.