Q.  What Union do I belong to?
A.  Welcome! You are now a member of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the second largest and fastest growing union in North America. Local 6 represents over 3,600 workers in Washington state. We are a union whose leadership reflects the diversity of its members, a union that wins respect, better wages and benefits, and improved working conditions for its members.

Q.  What exactly is a Union?
A.  A Union is a group of individuals who join together to form an organization that represents them regarding work and employment issues.  The Union is each one of you.  There are many ways to have a voice in your Union, beyond voting for officers and voting on contracts (see the fact sheet on "How to Participate").

Q.   What does the Union do for me?
A.   Local 6 negotiates contracts, represents you on job grievances and during disciplinary proceedings, works with you on legislative and political actions to advocate for the issues that affect you and your family, provides opportunities for education, offers scholarships for members and their families, and much more.

Q.   Why should I be a member?
A.   Most contracts provide that after a specified period of time you will become a member of SEIU Local 6. If you and your co-workers were not united in representation, the Union wouldn't have as much strength to represent you at the bargaining table and on the job. When everyone is a member, it makes us strong and enables us to meet the employer on equal terms.

Q.   May I pay an agency fee rather than become a member?
A.   Every employee has the right to choose to become an agency (fair share) fee payer instead of a union member. By doing so, however, you will forfeit all rights and benefits of union membership, including voting for contracts or officers, acting as a leader. The amount of the agency fee you must pay will reflect only the costs to the union of collective bargaining activity and will be 80-90% of the amount of union dues. If you want to become an agency fee payer, you must request information by phoning or writing the Secretary-Treasurer. If you do not agree with the amount of the agency fee, you may file objections and receive financial information on how the fee was determined. You may also have your objections determined by an impartial arbitrator.

Q.   Why is a contract so important?
A.   Because...

• it is a legal agreement between you and your employer;
• you have a voice in deciding your demands before contract negotiations even begin;
• a contract protects workers¾without one you have no power in the workplace;
• it requires a "due process" system for resolving problems in the workplace.

Q.   What is in a contract?
A.    A contract spells out all agreements between you and your employer, including but not limited to:

• wages;
• benefits;
• holidays/sick days/personal time; and
• any scheduling agreements.

Q.   Who decides to accept or reject a contract?
A.    You will; all union members vote on whether or not to accept a contract offer.

Q.   Why do we need a Union?
A.    Labor unions have been an important part of this country's history. Many workers over the years have sacrificed, even died for the rights we now enjoy. These early pioneers, maybe even one of your parents or grandparents, knew that only within the Union could they achieve on-the-job dignity and be assured of decent wages, health benefits, humane working conditions, and job security--foundations of Union representation.