The organizing committee has a number of critical functions during the campaign:

• Provides leadership. By openly supporting the union, the committee provides leadership and inspiration to the rest of the workers. Committee members take part in planning the campaign, and in carrying out union activities. 
• Conveys a sense of ownership. Since the committee consists of the workers themselves, workers get a greater sense of ownership of the union. The union is not some outsiders; it is the people themselves.  
• Educates co-workers. At committee meetings, committee members learn more and more about the union. They bring this information to their co-workers. They can respond to management misinformation as soon as it appears. 
• Serves as a communication network. Committee members are the eyes and ears of the organizer in the workplace. They can tell the organizers what is happening in the campaign, what the issues are, and what people's concerns are. 
• Acts as a watchdog. The committee keeps records of threats or other legal violations committed by the employer. Committee members know their legal rights, and can share this information with others. 
• Distributes literature and signs up co-workers. The committee is responsible for giving out leaflets to the workers, and are usually the ones who sign up the workers on union cards or petitions. The fact that the committee members give out the leaflets shows workers that they don't have to be afraid to engage in union activities.