What will happen if someone finds out I’m involved?

Even though retaliation for union activity is illegal, we remain sensitive to concerns about confidentiality and the need to protect ourselves. Penn State administrators never learn who signs or does not sign a union authorization card; that information stays between our union and the Labor Board. And although our work falls outside the purview of research (as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), we rely on our training on how to protect human subjects as we seek to protect each other.

At every stage of organizing, we maintain confidentiality as we grow support: nothing with any of our names on it will be shared or published without express consent. As we get more public in our actions, though, being out front is the best protection since under state labor law it is illegal for employers to discipline or in any way retaliate against a worker for organizing, supporting, or voting for a union. The more you’re on record doing so, the more legal protection you have. We will file unfair labor practice charges in any cases of retaliation.