Connecting with Labor

Req 2 — Visiting a Labor Organization

With your counselor’s and parent or guardian’s approval and permission, visit the office or attend a meeting of a local union, a central labor council, or an employee organization, or contact one of these organizations via the internet. Then do the following:

2a.

Find out what the organization does.

2b.

Share the list of issues and concerns you made for requirement 1. Ask the people you communicate with which issues are of greatest interest or concern to them and why.

2c.

Draw a diagram showing how the organization is structured, from the local to the national level, if applicable.

Connecting with Real People

This requirement takes your learning off the page and into the real world. You will make contact with an actual labor organization — a union, a labor council, or an employee group — and learn from the people who do this work every day. This is one of the most valuable parts of the merit badge because you get to hear firsthand perspectives that you cannot find in a textbook.

A Scout in clean uniform shaking hands with a union representative in an office, with labor posters and a meeting table visible in the background

Types of Organizations You Can Contact

You have several options for this requirement. Here is what each type of organization is:

Local union — A branch of a larger union that represents workers at a specific company or in a specific area. Examples include a local chapter of the United Auto Workers (UAW), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), or the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Local unions handle day-to-day issues like grievances, contract negotiations, and member services.

Central labor council — A regional body that brings together multiple local unions in a city or county. The council coordinates efforts across different unions, organizes community events, and advocates for workers on issues that affect everyone — not just one trade or industry.

Employee organization — A broader term that includes professional associations, employee advocacy groups, and other organizations that represent workers’ interests. Not all employee organizations are unions, but they share similar goals of supporting workers.

Preparing for Your Visit or Contact

Whether you visit in person, attend a meeting, or reach out online, preparation makes a big difference.

Before You Go

Steps to prepare for your visit or online contact

Get approval: Confirm with your parent or guardian AND your merit badge counselor before making contact.
Research first: Look up the organization online so you arrive with basic knowledge about who they are.
Bring your list: Have your Requirement 1 list of worker concerns ready to share and discuss.
Prepare questions: Write down 3–5 questions beyond the requirement basics (see suggestions below).
Bring materials: Notebook, pen, and your merit badge pamphlet or workbook.

Good Questions to Ask

Beyond the required questions, consider asking:

How did this organization get started, and how has it changed over the years?
What is the biggest challenge facing your members right now?
How do new members join, and what does the process look like?
What would you want a young person to know about the labor movement?
How does your organization work with the community beyond the workplace?

Requirement 2a: What Does the Organization Do?

When you ask what the organization does, listen for details about their mission, their daily activities, and their impact. Most labor organizations:

Negotiate contracts (called collective bargaining agreements) with employers
Represent members in disputes or grievances with management
Provide training, apprenticeship programs, or continuing education
Advocate for legislation that benefits workers
Offer benefits like health insurance, legal assistance, or scholarships
Organize community service and outreach

Take good notes. Your counselor will want to hear you explain the organization’s purpose in your own words — not just read from a brochure.

This part of the requirement is a real conversation. Share the list of eight or more worker concerns you developed in Requirement 1 and ask which ones matter most to the people you are speaking with.

Pay attention to why certain issues matter more to them than others. Their answers will give you real-world context that deepens your understanding far beyond what you read during your research.

Requirement 2c: Drawing an Organizational Diagram

Many labor organizations have a structure that goes from the local level all the way up to the national level. Your diagram should show these layers and how they connect.

A typical union structure looks something like this:

Local union — Represents workers at a specific workplace or in a specific geographic area. Led by elected officers like a president, vice president, secretary, and steward.
District or regional council — Groups several locals together for coordination across a larger area.
State federation — Coordinates union activities at the state level and lobbies state legislatures.
National/international union — The parent organization that charters local unions, sets broad policy, and provides resources. Examples: United Steelworkers, AFSCME, SEIU.
AFL-CIO or other federation — A federation of federations. The AFL-CIO is the largest, representing over 60 national and international unions and over 12 million workers.

Your diagram does not need to be artistic — a clear flowchart with boxes and arrows showing the hierarchy is perfect. Label each level and include the name of the specific organization at each tier if you can.

AFL-CIO — About Us Learn how the AFL-CIO is structured and what America's largest federation of unions does.

After Your Visit

Take a few minutes after your visit to review your notes while the conversation is still fresh. Write down anything you found surprising or especially interesting. These details will come in handy as you work through the remaining requirements — particularly Requirements 3, 7, and 8, which build directly on what you learn here.