# Is it really illegal for white collar workers to unionize? Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197 "2008-07-12T01:38:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scrambledeggs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@scrambledeggs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scrambledeggs)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/1 "2008-07-12T01:38:36Z")
A dilbert cartoon years ago had the cubicle workers grow a ‘backbone’ and try to unionize, until Wally says that it is illegal. Is that true? If so why–and if not, why aren’t more white collar workers unionized? Seems strange because as the economy advances, more and more people are white-collar office workers, and unions will eventually fade away. ---
**Author:** ![IAmNotSpartacus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IAmNotSpartacus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IAmNotSpartacus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/2 "2008-07-12T01:51:17Z")
Uh, not in California. Just go work for the state or local government. You’ll find all kind of unions for those flying desks. (both of my parents are career civil servants, 30+ years of service) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/3 "2008-07-12T01:58:06Z")
Roger that. My union is the most powerful union in the state, and we’re solidly white collar. Well, except for the PE teachers. Theirs is more grey. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/4 "2008-07-12T01:58:41Z")
Wally’s probably not the best source for reliable information. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/5 "2008-07-12T02:09:00Z")
A subset of employees known as supervisors are excluded from the statutory definition of employee, and therfore, unable to be union members. [Supervisor in name only: Union rights of eight million workers at stake in Labor Board ruling | Economic Policy Institute](http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/ib225) White collar workers can and do unionize: [http://www.workinglife.org/wiki/White-Collar+Workers+Flocking+to+Unions%3B+Professionals+Now+Approaching+Half+of+AFL-CIO+Union+Membership++(October+7,+2003)](http://www.workinglife.org/wiki/White-Collar+Workers+Flocking+to+Unions%3B+Professionals+Now+Approaching+Half+of+AFL-CIO+Union+Membership++(October+7,+2003)) [http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080702\_White-collar\_city\_union\_takes\_strike\_step.html](http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/20080702_White-collar_city_union_takes_strike_step.html) [http://www.afscme.org/16842.cfm](http://www.afscme.org/16842.cfm) > **[Striking Legal Aid Lawyers Bow to Mayoral Ultimatum (Published 1994)](https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/05/nyregion/striking-legal-aid-lawyers-bow-to-mayoral-ultimatum.html)** ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/6 "2008-07-12T02:15:46Z")
Certainly not illegal in the UK. Here’s one white collar union, for civil servants: [https://www.fda.org.uk/Resource.phx/content/public/index.htx](https://www.fda.org.uk/Resource.phx/content/public/index.htx) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/7 "2008-07-12T08:16:11Z")
Most white collar Feds have a “union”. It’s rather weak, they can’t usually strike but they can bargain and file a greivance. ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/8 "2008-07-12T10:39:34Z")
[QUOTE=silenus] Roger that. My union is the most powerful union in the state [/QUOTE] I dunno about that – the prison guards seem to be in the driver’s seat these days. The impression I get from my friends & relatives in CA is that the guards’ union pretty much gets whatever they want, while the schools lose funding, and teachers’ pay & benefits stagnate. One of my best friends is a newly-credentialed teacher in LA’s South Bay, and can only get short-term substitute gigs, since all the schools in her area have hiring freezes, with some actually laying off staff. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/9 "2008-07-12T11:12:16Z")
Sure white collar workers can unionize. For instance, in one of those odd quirks of union jurisdiction, attorneys employed by New York City agencies belong to the Teamster’s Union (not those in the office of the Corporation Counsel representing the City itself, but those in agencies like the Administration for Children’s Services and the like). ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/10 "2008-07-12T15:58:15Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth] Most white collar Feds have a “union”. It’s rather weak, they can’t usually strike but they can bargain and file a greivance. [/QUOTE] “Usually” can’t strike? Federal employees [can’t strike at all](http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF61.pdf) (PDF warning). It’s not only illegal under the law, but there are criminal penalties. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/11 "2008-07-12T16:24:09Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] “Usually” can’t strike? Federal employees [can’t strike at all](http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/SF61.pdf) (PDF warning). It’s not only illegal under the law, but there are criminal penalties. [/QUOTE] Right. This opinion discusses the relevant statutes and cases: [AGO Opinions | Washington State](http://www.atg.wa.gov/opinion.aspx?section=archive&id=5736) (see paragraph 3) ---
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/12 "2008-07-12T16:44:23Z")
What is the status of TSA employees? Are they still not allowed to even join a union? ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-really-illegal-for-white-collar-workers-to-unionize-why/456197/13 "2008-07-12T17:14:26Z")
Not only can we unionize, we can be forced to if just over half of the staff wants to. Actually…I’ll just leave it at yes we can.