How does a union become decertified as the exclusive bargaining representative of a group of employees?

Decertification is the National Labor Relations Board's removal of a union's certification as the exclusive bargaining representative of a unit of employees. A union becomes decertified through a decertification election. A decertification election petition is filed by an employee or group of employees to determine whether the certified union is still supported by a majority of employees within a bargaining unit. Petitions for decertification are filed between 60 and 90 days before the existing bargaining agreement expires.

A group of employees seeking decertification must obtain authorization cards from 30 percent of the employer's workforce requesting that the union no longer be the employees' exclusive collective bargaining representative. Once this showing of a lack of support is made, the NLRB will hold an election. If the majority of voters choose not to retain the union as their bargaining representative, the union is decertified.