Over the past three years, an employer has noticed that employee use of the company e-mail and internet system has been growing at an increasing rate. At the same time, the employer has read with interest news reports showing that unions have begun using the internet and e-mail as a way to effectively organize workers. In fact, the employer has seen union websites which offer to e-mail employees free step-by-step materials on how to organize a workplace in favor of a union. Worried about these trends, the employer implements a new policy prohibiting employees from using the company e-mail and internet system for anything other than company business. At the time that this policy is implemented, there is in fact no union organizing activity or effort under way at any of the employer's locations.

Unions help reduce wage gaps for women workers and workers of color. Union members have better job safety protections and better paid leave than non-union workers, and are more secure exercising their rights in the workplace.