7 Things Your Manager May Say to Stop You From Joining a Union
If you are thinking about joining a union, or if there is no union where you work, your manager may do everything in their power (and even some things they shouldn’t be doing) to discourage you from joining one.
Here are some of the things your manager may say:
1. Your manager may say: Give me another chance. I didn’t know you were unhappy.
The truth: When you give the company a second chance, you are usually let down. You may be treated better at first, but then they go back to their old ways. Often, your chance of winning is best the first time around. So don’t waste that chance.
2. Your manager may say: When you negotiate that first union contract, you may lose wages and benefits you already have.
The truth: It’s illegal for your employer to threaten to reduce benefits if you join a union. When you negotiate your first contract, you start at the pay and benefits you already have and build from there. You, the union and your co-officers decide what to ask for in your contract.
3. Your manager may say: You’ll never get a union contract because I’ll never sign one. Or, because it’s illegal to say this directly: Remember, we don’t have to agree to what the union wants in its contract.
The truth: Your company is legally required to negotiate with your union. They’ll talk tough, but don’t let them bully you. Your manager wants to keep you satisfied and keep the work flowing. When they are presented with reasonable contract proposals, will usually compromise.
4. Your manager may say: If a union is voted in, I’ll replace your job by outsourcing to a non-union company.
The truth: Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act protects your rights and makes it illegal for an employer to outsource your job or replace you for joining a union.
5. Your manager may say: A union will force you to go on strike, whether you want to or not. If you leave your job to go on strike, you could lose it. And then how would your family survive?
The truth: No union can force you to strike. Strikes only happen when a company refuses to bargain in good faith. What’s more, you always have a say in any strike decision. If the majority of employees do not want to strike, there is no strike. At the end of a strike, when the new contract is negotiated, UFCW Local 81 bargains “amnesty clauses” that allow employees to return to work with full rights under the new contract. Almost 99.9 percent of all UFCW Local 81 contract negotiations are settled without a strike.
6. Your manager may say: The union just wants your money. Sometimes they lie about the amount of your union dues and initiation fees. And you have to pay all your dues immediately when you vote to form a union.
The truth: There’s no need to pay dues or fees until after UFCW Local 81 negotiates your written union contract, which you must vote to accept. And the cost of dues? When you compare your present pay, benefits and lack of job security with the improvements in pay and working conditions your contract will bring, the dollar benefits far exceed your monthly dues. Example: A negotiated wage increase of just 25 cents an hour with a 40-hour work week, is an extra $40 a month. This extra money in your pocket is much more than your UFCW Local 81 monthly dues.
7. Your manager may say: The union cannot guarantee you one extra cent. You may even lose your current wages and benefits by voting to join a union.
The truth: Right now, Washington State law states that you are an at-will employee and can be fired at any time without cause and without any federal or state laws protecting you. With a union, you have laws protecting your rights. You have the right to negotiate a legal and binding contract that does guarantee you the wages, benefits, working conditions and job security you deserve.
Without a strong union fighting for you and a written union contract to protect your rights, your employer has the power to do just about anything when it comes to you and your job: let you go, outsource your job, change your shift, cut your hours, and lower your wages.
Find out about more benefits of union membership your manager might not want you to know.
