How much of the workforce must a Union collect authorization cards from to hold a representative election?

To hold a representative election, a union must collect authorization cards from at least 30% of the workforce. This threshold is significant because it demonstrates a sufficient level of support among employees to justify an election for union representation. In essence, this percentage reflects the minimum required interest in forming a union, which assures the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that there is enough potential support among workers to proceed with an election.

This requirement is based on labor laws and regulations that govern union representation elections. If a union can gather authorization cards from 30% of workers, it signals to the NLRB that a genuine desire exists among employees to have their representation through collective bargaining. Consequently, if these cards are successfully collected, the NLRB will arrange for a secret ballot election to determine whether the workers wish to be represented by the union.