Frequently Asked Questions
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A labor union is an organization of workers who join together to have a voice on the job and to be able to advocate for the issues that matter to them. Studies have shown that union members make significantly more money than non-union workers, have stronger job security, and are able to win improvements for themselves, the work they do, and the people they serve.
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Absolutely! Under Texas law, all employees, regardless of where we work or what our profession is, have the right to form and join unions. In 2025, Harris Center’s Board of Trustees updated their Continuing Employee Communication and Engagement (CECE) Policy to include language proposed by UWHC-CWA. This updated language in the CECE does several things:
1. Gives our union official status at Harris Center.
2. Guarantees our right to organize our union, host union events, and talk to our coworkers about it on the job free of retaliation.
3. Requires the CEO of the Harris Center to meet with a delegation of our union leaders 12 times a year to discuss issues related to our compensation and working conditions.
4. Gives us the opportunity to present to the Board as a union 4 times a year.
5. Creates the opportunity for us to join our union and pay membership dues by payroll deduction.
6. Gives us the right to have union representation in disciplinary and termination appeal meetings.
What’s more, both the Harris Center Board and Executive Management and Harris County Commissioners have publicly endorsed the right of all Harris Center employees to join a labor union. Any current employee who is a first-line supervisor or below is now eligible to join our union.
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In addition to the strong legal rights we all have under Texas law to join and be active in our union, we also have a positive relationship with CEO Wayne Young, members of the Harris Center Board of Trustees, and Harris County elected officials. Any retaliation against employees for union activity would not only be illegal under state law, it would go against the public statements and policies adopted by the HC Board and the Harris County Commissioners’ Court.
Under the Harris Center’s Continuing Employee Communication and Engagement (CECE) Policy we all have the right to talk with our coworkers about the union in work spaces while we are on a break. We are also able to have official union events like information tables and lunch meetings in work spaces with prior approval from a manager.
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As public sector employees in Texas we are not able to engage in collective bargaining and will not be legally protected if we choose to strike. However, there are other ways we can act together to win changes at our agency. Our grassroots organizing and mobilizing efforts have already won official status for our union, a seat at the table where decisions are made about our pay and benefits, as well as additional rights to union representation in discipline. We can continue using the platform that the CECE Policy gives us to bring forward the issues that matter most to us. This approach combined with using the power of all of us standing together and political pressure from supportive elected officials is a path to winning policy changes without collective bargaining.
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The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is one of the largest unions in Texas and represents workers in private and public sector employment in 1,200 chartered local unions nationwide, including here in Texas with the Austin EMS Association (CWA 6914), the Texas State Employees Union (CWA 6186), the Hays County EMS Association (CWA 6115), and United Workers of Integral Care (CWA 6154) . Here in Houston/Harris County CWA members work at the Harris County Psychiatric Center, UT MD Anderson, University of Houston, and AT&T. CWA is a democratic union, meaning members determine their own goals and issues to work towards and elect their own leadership.
Our union, United Workers of Harris Center, is affiliated with CWA as Local 6154, along with employees at our sibling LMHA in Austin Integral Care, because our union wouldn’t exist without the support and solidarity of CWA members and staff.
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Description text goes hereIn order to vote in union elections, have access to union representation in discipline and grievances, run for a union leadership position, or have a say in setting the goals of our union, you must be a dues-paying member. Union members voted to adopt the following monthly dues levels based on annual income:
$10/month (relief/part-time)
$15/month (< $39,000)
$23/month ($40,000 - $49,999)
$27/month ($50,000 - $59,999)
$35/month ($60,000 - $74,999)
$50/month ($75,000 - $99,999)
$60/month (> $100,000)
Most of our dues stay with our local union, and will be used as union members see fit (including trainings, education, office space, staff time, supplies, etc). The percentage that goes to the national union supports legal representation, worker advocacy at the national level, and to help organize other workers seeking unionization.
To become a dues-paying UWHC member, you can fill out this form or email us at contact@uwhc-cwa.org for more information.
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Texas’ Right to Work law states that a person cannot be denied employment due to membership or non-membership in a labor union. This means that no employees can legally be fired or retaliated against for union activity.
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As union members and employees, we are all devoted to our mission here at the Harris Center. We need a unified employee voice to advocate for the clients we serve as well as ourselves. We seek to elevate the Harris Center and to make it a better place to work and receive care.
We are organizing for our health and safety and that of our clients; studies show that client outcomes are better at health care facilities with unions. Workers with collective power can provide a crucial voice of first-hand experience when executives are making decisions about our work. Strengthening that voice will improve the Harris Center for our entire community.
Furthermore, together we can help create positive changes for the Harris Center and the community we serve by advocating for increased funding and legislative changes at the local, state, and federal government levels.
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The real question is what will we do for ourselves? Separate and alone, there is not much we can do. Together we are building an independent organization of Harris Center employees to advocate for ourselves and the people we serve. Together we will set our priorities, including:
● Client and worker safety
● Living wages, affordable benefits and equitable working conditions
● Fair representation to insure justice on the job
● Public funding for our clients and programs
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United Workers of Harris Center (UWHC-CWA) is the union for all front-line Harris Center employees including front-line supervisors (employees who don’t supervise other supervisors) in every department at every Harris Center location, including both full time and part time employees.
If you believe that improving our workplace will create better client outcomes, join the union. If you want to build an independent organization to fight for more public funding for mental health, addiction treatment, and housing, join the union. If you think advocating for our staff will make the Harris Center a better place to give and receive services, join the union. Together we will have more power in addressing issues for all Harris Center employees.
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It is illegal under Texas law for public employees (like Harris Center employees) to go on strike. Doing so would put our jobs at risk. UWHC-CWA does not claim the right to strike.
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We, as union members here at the Harris Center, will run our union. We will vote on big decisions in our monthly membership meetings. And we will vote on our union president, officers, and stewards to help run the day-to-day operations of our union.
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We know that our movement will be so much stronger when all Texas mental health authority employees form unions like ours. Harris Center employees are now the second group of LMHA workers in Texas to successfully organize a union after workers at Integral Care in Austin did so in 2022. We proudly encourage any LMHA employees anywhere in Texas to reach out and let us know how we can support them in their efforts to form unions.
If you work at or know someone who works at another mental health authority in Texas, email contact@uwhc-cwa.org so we can put you in touch with a CWA organizer.
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To join the union, you can fill out this form or email us at contact@uwhc-cwa.org for more information.
Dues are $10-$60 per month, depending on your salary. If you are interested in getting involved in our union get signed up and come to our next meeting! All members will receive emails about upcoming monthly membership meetings.
