How to Deauthorize a Union

Deauthorization: In non right-to-work states most union members are required to pay dues (or for Beck objectors a fee in lieu of union dues) as a condition of employment. This happens when a union contract includes what is called a union security provision. There is a process to get rid of a union security provision in your contract. It is called a “deauthorization” election. If you and your coworkers are successful in this election, the union will continue as your collective bargaining representative, but the union security clause will be nullified and you won’t be required to pay dues or fees to the union to remain employed. It is important to remember that your company cannot encourage or assist you and your coworkers in getting a deauthorization election at your company.

Beck Rights: Even if you have a union security clause in your contract you can object to paying any fees to the union other than for “representational purposes”. This means that you can ask the union not to take money that is used for politics or other non-representational activities. You can do this by exercising your “Beck” rights (named after the Supreme Court case Communication Workers v. Beck). To learn more about your Beck rights, please see the National Right to Work website on how to exercise your Beck rights.

Here are the steps to get a union deauthorization election started at your company:

Step 2: Employees need to draft a deauthorization petition (example draft below) for employee signatures.  If at least 30% of the bargaining unit employees sign a deauthorization petition, the National Labor Relations Board will have a secret ballot election.

Step 3: Employees can only perform deauthorization efforts during non-work times, and non-work areas.  Also, management cannot be involved in any way in this effort.

Step 4: If at least 50% or more of the employees vote to deauthorize the union security clause then the union security clause becomes void and you and your coworkers no longer have to remain a union members or pay dues or fees to remain employed. The union continues to represent all bargaining union members (even if you don’t pay dues or fees) and the rest of the labor contract remains in effect.

Deauthorization differs from decertification. The goal of deauthorization is not to get rid of the union, just to get rid of the obligation to pay mandatory dues or fees as a condition of employment. Click here to learn more about union decertification.

Sample Petition For Withdrawal Of Union Security Authority - Deauthorization Election

The undersigned employees, constituting 30% or more of the bargaining unit covered by a contract between [Union Name and Local Number] and [Employer Name] wish to withdraw the authority of [Union Name and Local Number] to enter into and enforce the union security clause in our contract.  The undersigned employees petition the National Labor Relations Board to hold a deauthorization election to determine whether the majority of employees wish to withdraw the authority of the union and the employer to enter into and enforce the union shop clause in the contract.

You can have signatures on more than one piece of paper, but you should have the text at the top of EACH PAGE of the petition so it is clear that every person signed a petition clearly describing its purpose. Remember only to collect signatures during non-work time and in non-work areas and do not ask a member of management to help with your petition. You can learn more about deauthorization elections at the National Right to Work website.