Dialysis Workers Can:

  • Talk about forming a union while at work, just as you would other topics such as vacations, your children, or favorite movies
  • Read or distribute materials about forming a union during breaks, meal periods, and before and after work in non-work areas (e.g., break room, cafeteria)
  • Attend meetings about the union
  • Sign and/or ask co-workers to sign union cards or petitions during breaks, meal periods, and before and after work. Cards or petitions can be signed anywhere except areas where patients receive treatment (un-less the facility has a preexisting rule that prohibits any solicitation in work areas)
  • Talk with each other and the public about staffing, pay, benefits, and other conditions at your work place

Management Cannot:

  • Prohibit workers from talking about the union if you are allowed to talk about other topics
  • Ask you whether you support forming a union
  • Engage in surveillance of union supporters or activities
  • Harass or intimidate workers for supporting a union
  • Ask workers to remove union items such as buttons and pens (unless there is a preexisting rule that prohibits items in patient care areas that is enforced against all types of items);
  • Prohibit workers from sharing information about staffing, pay, benefits, and other conditions at your work place
  • Implement new restrictions designed to interfere with forming a union, such as preventing workers from returning to their workplace on their day off.

Our Weingarten Rights:
If you are called into an interview with management that you think could lead to discipline, the Weingarten rule gives you the right to ask for union representation. Here is a statement you can use:

“I request to have a union representative present on my behalf during the meeting because I believe it may lead to disciplinary action being taken against me.”

  • RULE 1:You must make a clear request for union representation before or during the interview. You cannot be punished for making this request.
  • RULE 2: After you make the request for union representation the employer must either grant the request or end the interview.
  • RULE 3:If the employer denies the request for union representation and continues to ask questions, the employer commits an unfair labor practice.