Workers have the right to organize and to bargain collectively with their employer through an agent of their choosing, according to the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) protects your right to vote your free choice in a fair, honest, secret-ballot election.

Under Section 7 of the NLRA, employees have the right:

• To self-organization
• To form, join, or assist labor organizations
• To bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing
• To act together for the purposes of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection
• To refuse to do any of all of these things

Your rights during an election are protected by the NLRB. Neither employers nor unions can interfere with your right to an honest election.

The following are examples of conduct which is NOT allowed by the NLRB and may cause the setting aside of an election:

• Threatening loss of jobs or benefits
• Promising or granting promotions, pay raises, or other benefits, to influence an employee’s vote by a party capable of carrying out such promises
• An employer firing employees to discourage or encourage union activity or a union causing them to be fired to encourage union activity
• Making campaign speeches to assembled groups of employees on company time within the 24-hour period before the election
• Incitement by of racial or religious prejudice by inflammatory appeals
• Threatening physical force or violence to employees to influence their vote

If you have any questions about your rights to organize call the ILWU at (808) 949-4161 or call the National Labor Relations Board Region 20 Honolulu office at (808) 541-2814.