Labor Glossary

Sometimes you might feel like you’re the only one among your coworkers that doesn’t know what a bargaining unit is.  Don’t get lost in the jargon. Here’s a labor glossary to get you up to speed!

721 constitution and bylaws:
The documents that establish a governing structure for the union.  

Arbitration: A method of settling disputes by submitting them to an impartial third party whose decision is final and binding.
Bargaining unit: A group of employees who bargain collectively with their employer. The unit may include all the workers in a single worksite or a number of worksites (“wall-to-wall”), or it may include only the workers in a single occupation within one worksite.

Committees and caucuses: Union members associated in several committees are responsible for bargaining and policy issues as related to the union contract for example benefits and health. Union members also comprise separate, extra-curricular groups dedicated to social and economic justice, African-American, Latino, lesbian and gay rights, the disabled and women’s issues. Click here for more information.
Collective bargaining:
Direct negotiations between the union and the employer to determine wages, hours and working conditions for a certain length of time (the contract period).
Committee on Political Education (COPE): A political fund established to educate members about political issues, support the best candidates for public office, pass legislation and encourage registration and voting. Contributions are voluntary from members’ payroll deduction.
Contract:
The legal document that spells out the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the employer. A contract is also referred to as a Memorandum of Understanding or MOU.
Executive board: The governing body of the local union.
Grievance: A violation of the contract.

Labor-management committee: A group of employees and managers charged with working together to improve services, job quality and resolve issues.
Member Resource Center (MRC): A call center staffed with trained professionals ready to answer members’ questions by phone about their contract, job, problems or other worksite issues. You can reach the MRC Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at
(877) 721-4YOU
. Se habla Español.
Occupational Councils: Groups of members from various geographies but similar jobs who work together to improve jobs and services in their respective fields.
Organizing/organizer:  Organizing is the process by which union strength is built at the workplace. Organizers are paid union staff and volunteers who help working people join together to have a voice at work to win better pay and benefits and safe and healthy conditions on the job.
Internal organizing:
The process of building strength for people who already have a union, by winning strong contracts and resolving work site issues. “External organizing” refers to extending union membership to those who do not yet have a voice at work.
Past practice: A customary way of doing things not written into the contract. Past practices can sometimes be enforced through the grievance procedure if the practice has been longstanding, consistent and accepted by the parties.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU):
The fastest-growing union in North America, with 1.9 million members in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. SEIU members are winning better wages, health care and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers, not just corporations and CEOs, benefit from today’s global economy.

Steward: A union member who volunteers to represent members of the union in contract enforcement issues with the employer. The front-line union leaders at the worksite, SEIU stewards are problem solvers, educators and communicators. And, most importantly, they are organizers. Also called a shop steward.
Unfair labor practice:
A “ULP” is a violation of labor law.
Union member: Those who pay regular dues and are eligible to vote to ratify contracts and elect union officers or negotiators.
Weingarten rights:
The name of the case from which the legal principle that an employee is entitled to have a union representative present during any investigatory interview that could lead to discipline is derived.  Weingarten rights also include the right of the union representative to assist and counsel the member during the interview.
Worksite organizer:
The union’s paid professional staff members who work with members and stewards to build worker power at the worksite.