It is, quite simply, nearly impossible for workers to get rid of a union once it has been certified as their monopoly bargaining representative. It does not require an election at the end of a designated term, workers may never get the opportunity to decertify a union they don’t want representing them.
For workers unsatisfied with a union’s representation, this can be a frustrating process. After all, less than 10 percent current CWA members have voted to have a union in their workplace—in the union was already established and the worker had to join or face harassment, While de-authorization provides an outlet for workers who wish to exercise the rights of free association, the process is difficult. Workers who want to rid themselves of a union are completely on their own. Obviously the union will not help them and the company is forbidden to help by law. The company cannot even let the workers so much as use a copier for the petitions, which would be considered “aiding” the de-authorization effort.
Unlike decertification, a de-authorization election can take place at any time. It does not remove either the union as workers’ exclusive bargaining representative or workers’ obligation to abide by the collective bargaining agreement (the contract). It simply removes the union security clause from the contract, giving workers the choice of whether they want to be members of the union. If the workers are successful in de-authorizing a union, they are free to resign their memberships and stop paying union dues—thus creating a de facto right-to-work environment.