In a move designed to aid unionization efforts, union activists have launched Unionizeme.org—with the stated goal of ending poverty for employees at large companies through unionization. The website—which generally targets employees in the retail and fast food sectors at specific businesses—seeks to quietly organize employees in geographic clusters without management's knowledge.

The website creates a platform for employees to register individual accounts, which lists the employees' personal information along with their specific work location. Registered employees electronically sign a union card and are asked to encourage their coworkers to join the cause through the website. The website specifically advises that by signing up, workers authorize Unionize.me to represent them in negotiations about wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions.

The website's purpose is not to unionize a single workplace. Rather, the website purportedly attempts to organize clusters of stores in the same geographic areas. The website states that once 30 percent of each store in the cluster has signed up, union cards are submitted to the National Labor Relations Board. The strength in clusters enables employees to maximize negotiating leverage after a successful election, since a strike will impact a company's ability to serve customers in an entire region.

Unionizeme.org identifies itself as a labor union—a 501(c)(5) nonprofit—consisting of lawyers, programmers, and political activists. Notably absent is any reference to a specific union or the funding sources for the website.

It is unclear what effect, if any, the website will have on unionization efforts. Nevertheless, employers should be aware of this new tactical unionizing effort.