Answers to Frequently
Asked Questions
About Organizing
(Each Local and each organizing campaign is different.  Consult the CWA Healthcare Local in your area for details, or contact us by submitting the form below on the right.)


Healthcare workers want to provide the best patient care and maintain the highest patient satisfaction. To do so, however, we need appropriate staffing.  We also need fair and consistent policies and enough equipment and supplies to do the work we were trained to do. We need to make sure our voices and our concerns are heard when decisions are made about our healthcare facilities, our patients, and our jobs.  That's why WE joined CWA.

"How can forming a Union give us a more powerful voice?"
Forming a Union gives employees a tool outside the control of management because it obligates management to negotiate wages, hours, and working conditions with you.  Ultimately, the union and management reach a legally-binding contract that is fair and consistent and that management cannot amend or alter without the employees' approval. But the Union is much more than that:  It is a democratic organization made up of employees who want to improve your workplace. The Union is yours. YOU control the agenda of your organization and YOU decide what you do to improve your jobs and the care you provide. 

"Why CWA? Is it the right Union for my co-workers and me?"
There are thousands of health care workers around the country who are part of CWA, but that’s not the reason it’s the right Union for you. CWA is a strong, democratic, member-driven Union which exists for no reason other than to provide members with the tools to fight for fairness and justice in our workplaces. CWA’s bargaining strength and mobilization strategy have been proven to win excellent contracts in both the public and private sectors. Healthcare workers need the strength of CWA--of thousands of other workers in your area standing with you--so you can bargain with your employer from a position of power.

"What about dues?
(i.e., How much does it all cost?)"
Dues are set by the members of each CWA Local. Dues are generally about 1.3% of base wages. There are no dues on overtime, shift differentials, etc. and no one pays dues until you and your co-workers vote to ratify your first contract!

"What does it take to build a Union at my workplace?"
The first steps in organizing are the most important. Before anything else, you should contact a CWA organizer to learn how to avoid common mistakes. In general, the process involves forming an Organizing Committee of dedicated individuals who will learn about the Union and develop a strategy to get the word out to everyone else, as well as to warn them about management's likely response. The more informed people are, the clearer the choice becomes.

The Union is nothing more than a group of employees coming together to change your workplace for the better, therefore you must take responsibility to build it! Together you can!