Showing a Majority

Your first step is to have workers at your company sign ILWU authorization cards. By signing an authorization card, you’re saying that you want the ILWU to represent you and to bargain on your behalf for a union contract. The cards are confidential; your employer will never see the cards.

If a majority of workers at your company signs the ILWU cards, one of two things happens:

If your employer grosses more than $5 million a year:

• The ILWU will submit the cards to the HLRB.
• The HLRB checks your signature to make sure a majority of workers have signed the cards (50% + 1).
• Once the HLRB sees a majority of workers have signed the cards, the HLRB certifies the ILWU as the representative for workers in your company.

If your employer grosses less than $5 million a year:

• The ILWU files a petition with the HLRB.
• The HLRB checks your signature to make sure that at least 30% of the workers have signed the cards.
• The HLRB conducts a secret-ballot union election for workers in your company to vote on having a union.
• If a majority votes “yes” (50% + 1), the HLRB certifies the ILWU as the representative for workers at your company.