Printing for a Union Card Campaign
Are you organizing a union card campaign at your workplace? Do you have all the print materials you need to establish and set up your imminent union? Read on for some guidance on how to make sure you’re prepared.
Below we explain what a union card campaign is, what products it requires, and how you can find the right company to order print materials from.
Click the headings below to be taken to each section:
If the print products you have in mind are different than what is covered in this article, or you have other questions about printing techniques or the purchasing process, browse our blog or contact us at JH French directly.
Find a reliable print shop like JH French to cover all your union printing needs.
What is a Union Card Campaign?
A Card Campaign is when employees at a workplace sign union cards to formally indicate their interest in organizing into a union.
A “card campaign" is sometimes called a “card check” or an “organization campaign.”
There are a few different ways to begin assessing union interest in your workplace, such as word of mouth, card campaigns, or secret ballot votes. Each has its own advantages.
However, if you’re serious about organizing, you’ll need the right printing products to inform workers about what they’re getting into, and the right documentation once your union begins to take shape.
Brochures are a good way to convey important union information.
Using a Card Campaign to Start a Union
Every workplace is a bit different, but in most cases, there are a few steps you can refer back to when it comes to planning a union:
Identify Your Motive - Usually initiated by a member of the workplace, someone will come up with the idea that they should start a union. This can be followed by contacting a union which would then send over a representative to assess the situation and provide organizational advice.
Be Transparent and Informed - It’s very important that employees are not bullied or coerced into joining a union. Do the best you can to be transparent in your actions, and aware of the legality of any actions you take.
Measure Interest - This is where a union card campaign comes in. Workers should have access to cards they can sign to express interest. If 40% of the workers sign cards, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) will allow the workers to hold a vote to determine if they want a union.
Next Steps - If the workers vote that they want a union, they will likely get in touch with a union governing body in their industry, which can help them build a board of workplace representatives who represent the union.
Don’t be too hasty when organizing your union. You want things to be as airtight as possible, without ever stooping to bullying or bending the law to get your way.
Print Materials for Unions
If you’re starting a union card campaign or a secret ballot vote, then obviously you’ll need cards and ballots. But there are many other types of print products that unions find helpful, whether they need to spread the word, prepare for a special event, or simply record important information.
These are just some of the print products available, but there are many more options if you’re interested:
Cards & Forms
Small cards and forms are perfect for allowing people to sign up and declare their interest in starting or joining a union, or in making formal agreements so the conditions of those agreements do not get forgotten.
Some unions will distribute operational forms to guide their branches about how to organize themselves or what types of benefits they’re fighting for.
Many print shops will also be able to provide higher quality cardstock or stationery if all you need are mostly blank sheets.
Pamphlets & Brochures
Pamphlets and brochures usually take the form of single sheets of paper, folded once or twice to form small booklets.
They’re typically used to educate people on a subject or to advertise something, but they can be designed to display whatever you like.
Similar to cards and forms, pamphlets are a cheap, disposable item that can be ordered in large amounts to be handed out at a conference for example.
Event Materials
Having an annual union meeting? Or a promotion? Or a special social event?
Why not get some custom-made event material?
You can easily place your logo on cards, posters, or flyers, and then hand them out to build attention and interest.
If you’re planning an event that you know will happen every year, like a general meeting, you may be able to ask your local print shop if you could schedule a print order for the future, meaning you won’t have to go through the ordering process every single year.
How to Order
Once you’ve laid out your union organization plans, you’ll need to actually get your hands on all the materials you need to run and operate your workplace union.
Perhaps you’ve chosen to order some important forms, some exciting posters, and some brochures to hand out to any workers who want to learn more. But where do you get all this stuff? Read on for more detail.
We recommend ordering your print materials from a print shop that’s used to working with unions.
Generally speaking, provided you do your research into print shops near you, compare prices, and don’t make any impulse decisions, you will likely be able to get a product you’re happy with. And if you follow these three steps, you can be sure that the products you’ve ordered will be what you need.
1. Define Your Order
Before ordering any print products for your union card campaign or anything else, you need to know what products you want.
In addition to choosing from the specific styles of products available (see above), you need to also come up with the content. If your local workplace union is being supported by a larger union group in your region, that group may be able to supply you with all the digital files you need, and all you need to do is get them printed. Otherwise, you’ll need to design the content yourself.
We do recommend working with an external group to define the legal terms that your union plans on adhering to. But for any graphical elements, like those that would go on posters, you don’t need to overthink it. You can use simple graphics, or ask your local print shop to see if they can help with graphic design work.
2. Find the Right Store
After you know what products you want and what you want them to say, you need to find a print store you can trust.
When researching, look for these features in a store:
Experience - If a store has been open for a while, it means they likely have a consistent process and a dedicated clientele.
Versatility - Try to find a store that offers a variety of printing products and methods. Then if you like their service and want more, you know they can facilitate your need.
Extra Services - Some print stores can give you help with your graphic design, packing, and even the shipping and mailing of your product once it’s complete.
Good Reviews - Check Google Reviews or see what other organizations have said about working with the store.
And remember, even if the store doesn’t turn out to be the right one for you, you can always switch who you’re ordering from after your initial order is complete.
3. Cover All Your Bases
When planning out your order with a print shop, make sure to get unambiguous clarification on the final price, the timeline, and what to expect if you’re having the items mailed anywhere.
Pricing will vary based on what items you’re ordering, and how many of them you’re getting. Placing orders in the thousands of copies can shave your price-per-unit in half.
Most standard print orders will only take a week or less to complete.
Print stores like JH French offer Canada-wide shipping, so if you establish an address beforehand, you can have your order shipped wherever in the country is most convenient for you.
JH French
Printing for Union Card Campaigns & Much More
Are you looking for a print shop with both good customer service and the expertise to deliver on their promise of quality?
Look no further than JH French, an independent, environmentally responsible business that has been providing residents of Hamilton and surrounding areas with the best quality print goods for over 100 years.
Contact us today to learn more about all our different products and services.
“Highly recommend! They are so patient and accommodating - I came at them with some unrealistic timelines and they not only met our goal, but made it stress-free. They do fantastic work with 5-star customer service!”