Frequently Asked Questions

A union will empower teachers and staff to work with Carmen leadership to create a school that works in the best interests of all stakeholders, from students and families to staff and administrators. We want to provide input on decisions that affect our schools and the students we serve. We want to create schools and classrooms that are healthy spaces for everyone and have the chance to participate in determining our future at Carmen.

We can use collective bargaining to fight for:

• Livable wages consistent with assigned work
• Sustainable work schedules that promote a healthy work-life balance
• Affordable healthcare
• Equitable hiring practices, and due process and job security
• School policies that promote equity for staff, students, and families
• A dedicated space for social justice organizing and community partnerships

Yes! Unions give workers a seat at the table with their employer. Unions allow employees to be advocates and have honest conversations with leadership to make improvements to the workplace in a protected fashion. For most working-class citizens, it is nearly impossible to negotiate the terms and conditions of their contract to their satisfaction on an individual level. Unions support workers because there is power in numbers and community. Unions support employers because there is a greater employee satisfaction and retention.

In 2020, 7.2 million U.S. employees in the public sector and 7.1 million workers in the private sector belonged to unions. According to a 2021 economic report released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonunion workers had median weekly earnings that were 84% of earnings for workers who were union members ($958 versus $1,144). Among major race and ethnicity groups, Black workers continued to have a higher union membership rate in 2020 (12.3 percent) than White workers (10.7 percent), Asian workers (8.9 percent), or Hispanic workers (9.8 percent). The union membership rate for Black workers (+1.1 percentage points), Hispanic workers (+0.9 percentage point), and White workers (+0.4 percentage point) increased over the year, while the rate for Asian workers changed little. The increases in the union membership rates reflect declines in total wage and salary employment for these groups, principally among nonunion workers. Furthermore, once a union is formed, workers are no longer “at will” employees. A union contract provides a due process with specific disciplinary actions that the employer must take before deciding to discipline or fire workers.

We have 4 priorities:

1. Financial Fairness: Providing a living wage and benefits that matches teachers’ expertise and helps us recruit and retain strong staff.
2. Sustainable Workload: Creating daily expectations that are reasonable for a single school day.
3. Transparency: Integrating accountability, clarity, and teacher voice in the decision-making process.
4. Equity: Prioritizing anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practices in our treatment of workers, students, and families. Check out the Demands page for more information.

There are several phases to forming a union:

1. Concerned workers discuss whether they want to form a union. Oftentimes, this happens quietly so that workers can discuss without experiencing pressure from the employer. Workers who support the union fill out a Union Authorization Card (which Carmen Staff can do here!)
2. Once the workers are ready, they bring their organizing campaign to the public.  Employees have time to decide whether or not they want to form a Union. Once a strong plurality of workers have signed Union Authorization cards, the Union files for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
3. The NLRB sets a date for an election.  If 50% plus one of the workers vote “Yes” in the election, then the employer must sit down with the workers and negotiate a contract.  If not, then the unionization effort is over with no union established.

In brief: stronger teaching staff, improved student outcomes, better communication, and more community engagement!

Firstly, we use collective bargaining to fight to end the one-way relationship between Carmen administration and the workers, and the inherent classism and racism implied by that kind of one-way relationship. This starts with having teachers on decision-making committees, a more transparent disciplinary process for staff, and a teacher on the Board of Directors. We believe that giving teachers more say in how the school runs will help prevent unequal treatment along lines of race, class, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation – especially when it’s not intended. These opportunities, as well as the financial security that union contracts can provide, are key to advancing social justice goals both within the school and the city as a whole.

Secondly, evidence shows that voluntarily unionized charter schools have higher overall achievement and academic growth in English Language Arts compared to non-unionized charter schools (read the full study here), as well as positive impacts on math outcomes (read that study here). While these studies do not provide an explanation, we at Carmen believe that providing adequate compensation and more stability for teachers will provide us a better opportunity to develop into excellent educators.

Thirdly, teachers and other front line employees are the ones that first hear complaints and concerns from students and families; we need a guaranteed seat at the table to communicate those concerns in a safe space. We can also advocate for more decision-making powers in the hands of students and families. For example, students and families often ask for more electives, especially classes that provide advanced academic opportunities (e.g., computer science and more AP classes) and pre-professional experience (e.g., auto shop and CNA programming). Teachers can help advocate for, and build, these options for students and families.

Finally, unions are organizations with a long history of being involved in the community. Voces de la Frontera, Leaders Igniting Transformation, and Black Leaders Organizing Communities have all worked closely with unions. With a union, we have another pathway to being more involved in community issues and have a formal organization with the weight of its resources to back our broader social justice work. In fact, the Chicago Teachers Union listed more affordable housing for their families as one of their union demands.

Unions were and are the way sustainable, living wage jobs were built in this country, and our students and families deserve to see it is possible to fight for a better world. Students deserve to understand the process of unionization for their future in the workforce, regardless of their job.

No. We strongly believe it will strengthen and improve our schools. That’s because workers who form a union are more satisfied and productive at work. Joining in unions also reduces costly turnover and makes the workplace safer. Additionally, by forming a union we’ll be able to hold more sway over workplace policy changes, giving teachers and students a voice. We are thoughtful, dedicated educators and Carmen will benefit when our perspectives are listened to, and when we are able to thrive.  

Absolutely!  Without a union, you are an at-will employee and Carmen can choose to change your working conditions at any time, discipline, or fire without notice, and for any reason (with the exception of federal protections which protect against discriminatory employer actions.)  Once you and your co-workers unionize, you will no longer be “at-will” employees.  Carmen will be obligated to follow the disciplinary rules outlined in the negotiated grievance procedure in your contract.

A union contract provides a due process with specific disciplinary actions that the employer must take before deciding to discipline workers. While this grievance procedure may not overturn Carmen’s decision (in case Carmen was justified and followed the proper disciplinary procedures), it does provide workers with safety from unjust or unfair discipline or job loss.

Yes, if a union is voted in, all employees in the collective bargaining unit are subject to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement regardless of whether they voted in the election.  In the same way that our government elections work, the results of the election apply to everyone.

Most private sector workers have the right to join or support a Union under the National Labor Relations Act.

Worker Rights Under the NLRA:

• Organize a union to negotiate with your employer concerning wages, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.
• Form, join or assist a union.
• Bargain collectively through representatives of employees’ own choosing for a contract with the employer setting wages, benefits, hours, and other working conditions.
• Discuss terms and conditions of employment or union organizing with their co-workers or a union.
• Take action with one or more co-workers to improve working conditions by, among other means, raising work-related complaints directly with the employer or with a govern­ment agency, and seeking help from a union.
• Strike and picket, depending on the purpose or means of the strike or the picketing
• Choose not to do any of these activities, including joining or remaining a member of a union.

Source: www.nlrb.gov

More info at:https://carmenworkerscollective.org/worker-rights/