How Managers And Supervisors Can Support Our Organizing Effort

Dear Supervisors and Managers,

As you navigate the unionization process within your teams, here are several key ways you can support your staff and ensure a fair, respectful environment:

• Take the Initiative to Learn
  Familiarize yourself with the basics of how unions operate, including collective bargaining and unionized workplaces. This can help you better understand the process and engage with employees more effectively.
• Provide Neutral Information and Resources
  Ensure that employees have access to unbiased, factual information about unionization. This may include allowing time for union representatives to meet with staff and providing printed resources or directions to reliable information.
• Listen to Employee Concerns
  Be an empathetic listener. Take the time to hear out your clinicians' concerns about working conditions, burnout, understaffing, and other issues that may be driving their decision to organize. Support them by understanding their needs, even if you don’t fully grasp the union process.
• Maintain a Neutral Stance
  Stay neutral throughout the unionization effort. Avoid expressing personal opinions for or against unionization and ensure there is no pressure or influence on staff. Your neutrality ensures employees can make their own informed decisions without fear of retaliation.
• Encourage Professional Growth and Engagement
  While you may not fully understand union mechanics, encourage clinicians to take leadership roles and engage in forums or professional development that allow them to voice their concerns. Empowering them within the organization can help address issues before they escalate.
• Address Workplace Issues Transparently
  Proactively address issues like understaffing, workload imbalance, and other workplace challenges. Open discussions about staffing levels and solutions can reduce the need for unionization and demonstrate your commitment to improving working conditions.
• Respect Employees' Rights to Organize
  Ensure employees have the freedom to engage in union activities during non-work hours without interference. Respect their right to meet with union representatives and support their right to organize without any obstruction.
• Facilitate Open Communication
  Create neutral spaces where employees and union representatives can meet openly. Facilitate constructive conversations to ensure that employees can make informed decisions without fear of retaliation or disruption.

By following these steps, you can support your staff through the unionization process and contribute to a fair, transparent, and respectful workplace environment.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to your team’s well-being and success.