Union Organizing and Elections
30%
Showing of Interest
Trigger to file petition
50+1
Election Win
Majority of votes cast
12
Months Bar
No new election after certification
cards · campaign · ballot box
The Election Journey
Cards stack on the left. Petition gets filed. Campaign runs. Then the ballot drops into the box on the right. Two thresholds gate the path — 30% to file, 50%+1 to win.
Two Rules the Exam Tests by Name
Peerless Plywood
24 hrNeither side may hold a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE meeting within 24 hours of the election. Voluntary attendance meetings allowed.
Excelsior List
2 daysEmployer must provide names and addresses of unit employees to the union within 2 days of the election direction.
Exam Traps
50%+1 of votes CAST, not unit
Empty boxes do not count. The exam tests the comparator. Majority of those voting wins.
30% files. 50%+1 wins
Different thresholds for different stages. Filing is petitioning. Winning is voting.
Peerless Plywood = 24 hours
Neither side may hold a captive audience meeting in the 24 hours before the election. Voluntary attendance meetings allowed.
Supervisors do not vote
Misclassifying supervisors as employees creates legal exposure on both sides. The exam tests this.
Cast votes only
Majority of votes cast wins. Non-voters do not count as no. This is a frequent miss.
Excelsior list within 2 days
Employer must give the union names and addresses of unit employees within 2 days of election direction.
A group wants to form a tenants association. Collects signatures from 30% of units. Showing of interest met.
NLRB petition. Pre-election hearing resolves disputes about who is in the unit.
Both manager and tenants association campaign. Captive audience rules apply.
Peerless Plywood Rule. No mandatory meetings on either side.
100 units. 60 vote. 31 vote yes. Majority of votes cast wins.
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