How do you vote out a labor union at work?

The National Labor Relations Act provides the legal framework for private-sector employees to organize into bargaining units in their workplace, or to dissolve their labor unions through a decertification petition.

Information Officers at any NLRB Regional Office will answer questions regarding representation or decertification petitions and provide assistance with completing petition forms. To file a petition to form a union or to decertify an existing one, parties must file the forms at the Regional Office that has jurisdiction over the area where the workplace is located. Go to the page titled Locating Our Offices to find a Regional Office.

The filing of a petition seeking certification or decertification of a union should be accompanied by a sufficient showing of interest to support such a petition. Support is typically demonstrated by submitting dated signatures of at least 30% of employees in the bargaining unit in favor of forming a union, or to decertify a currently recognized union.

For more detailed information on representation petitions, read The NLRB and You - Representation Cases (PDF*).

For more information on filing a union organization or decertification petition, read the Procedures Guide.

Click here to download a workplace organization or decertification form: NLRB FORM 502--Petition (PDF*).

Who may file?

Any union, employer or individual may file a petition to obtain an election conducted by the NLRB.