DID YOU KNOW? TEN THINGS UNION ORGANIZERS WON'T TELL YOU
Union organizers are paid to sell you on joining their union. Because of this, many union organizers will shield you from knowing the truth about their union, or unions in general.
Below are some of the things you will almost never hear a union organizer admit:
Did you know that, if you become unionized, you are NOT the union? While you may be a member of a union, the union is a legal entity that is regulated by the United States Department of Labor. Additionally, as a member of the union, there are rules and regulations that you must follow to avoid being placed on trial by the union. Further, if there is a union contract, the contract is between your company and the union--not you. Why? Very simply, if you leave the union stays.
Did you know that most unions are CONTROLLED FROM THE TOP-DOWN? In fact, in certain unions, the control from the top down has become so dictatorial that union members attempt to kick the union out of their workplace, only to learn that they may face prosecution and trial by the very union they are paying. [For more about union control, go here.]
Did you know that you can LOSE as a result of union negotiations? While a union organizer may try to convince you that belonging to a union is "risk free," that is not the truth. You can lose as a result of having a union negotiate over your wages, benefits or other terms and conditions of your job. [For more about collective bargaining (negotiations), go here.]
Did you know that, by having a union, you have very little say in what is negotiated into a contract? While unions will often conduct "bargaining surveys," there is no obligation for a union to raise your issues at a bargaining table and, further, your issues can easily be by-passed for issues that the union wants in negotiations (like union [income] security language). [To read more about What Unions Want, go here.]
Did you know that many union organizers and agents are in fact "non-union"? In some cases, however, union personnel have been known to become unionized to attempt to negotiate with their union bosses. [To read more about union hypocrisy, go here.]
Did you know that, if you want your union to file a grievance on the job, the union is not legally required to do so? While a union has a duty of fair representation (i.e., non discrimination), it does not have to represent you to your liking. In fact, every year, thousands of union members learn this fact the hard way and file Unfair Labor Practice charges alleging that their union has failed to represent them on the job.
Did you know that a union can reward its pro-union supporters by negotiating "super-seniority" and other 'perks' into a contract? If negotiated, the union's stewards who may have less length of service than you at your company, will become more "senior" than you for the purposes of layoff or recall from layoff and, in some cases, shift bidding.
Did you know that unions often despise one another because they view the other as competition for the same workers? Inter and Intra-union wars date back as long as there have been unions. At any given time, there is usually some animosity between unions. Since 2005, due to the fact that there are two labor federations (the AFL-CIO and Change to Win), there are several unions that have publicly expressed great animosity toward one another.
Did you know that most union constitutions state that you can be placed on trial for being "disloyal" or engaging in conduct "unbecoming a member"? Unions expect loyalty from their members and 'disloyalty' or 'engaging in 'conduct unbecoming a member' is usually an offense that could cause the member to be placed on trial and, if found guilty, punished by fine, suspension or expulsion. [Click the following links to learn more about union constitutions and union fines.]
Did you know that the union dues you pay a union go to pay the salaries and benefits (including retirement) of union officers and union staff that you will probably never meet (and might not even know the names of)? [For more on where union dues go, click here.]
All information and materials on 1-888-NO-UNION.COM are free. The information and materials on this site are for informational purposes only. Nothing on this website constitutes, nor should it be viewed as legal advice or advice to either employees or employers. Moreover, the information provided on this site should NOT be construed as advice for employees on how to exercise your NLRA Section Seven Rights. If you have a legal question, you are strongly encouraged to consult with your attorney (as an employer) or contact us should you need a referral to legal counsel. Further, should you request an answer to a question, you agree that any answer to any question does not constitute legal advice, or advice of any nature, but is purely for informational purposes.
Copyright. 1-888-NO-UNION.COM, LLC. 2009. All rights reserved.
