Common Misconceptions About Unions
"Unions are a 3rd party that will come between workers and their managers" or
"You won’t be able to talk to your manager once the union is in."
Management reserves management functions in the Management’s Rights clause of the contract. The union advocates for you if you feel that management’s decisions are unfair or without just cause. Your union will try to help rectify a situation, working with you and management. This process, the Grievance Procedure, is clearly spelled out in the contract agreed upon by your union and management. Federal law mandates that you have the right to talk to your manager about a problem without union representation- but you have the right to union representation if you want it, and you don’t have to answer any questions without representation.
"Unions will force you to strike."
Strikes are rare, but in this era of sensationalistic media, it’s safe to say that the public will hear about a union if a strike is looming or threatened. In reality, chances for a strike are between 1% and 2%. Strikes are in the best interest of no one, and chances are you’ll end up with a fair contract instead. Often, employers use strikes as a scare tactic during an organizing campaign. And unions don’t force you to strike- the membership of the union votes on whether or not to strike. It will be your decision- not union staff or organizers.
"All the union wants is your dues money."
Since when has your employer cared about how you spend your money? Union dues depend on several factors: the industry, the union, members’ salaries, etc… Union members set their own dues in a democratic process, and you don’t start paying dues until your contract is ratified. A small portion of your dues will go to your union on the state and national levels, and the remainder will stay in your local’s coffers. Your local will decide how this money is spent, but generally it goes towards various affiliations and helping your local build a solid union.
"Unions are not really democratic organizations."
Unions are nothing if not democratic. Your local will elect representatives through a democratic process. Members of the union vote on all decisions, through these elected representatives. The final decision may not be one that some workers are happy with, but at least they had the opportunity to have a say in that decision. Without the union, management can make unilateral changes that affect all aspects of your working condition, without letting you have any say at all.
"Unions protect bad workers."
Without a union contract, your employer can fire you with or without reason, anytime they want, good worker or bad. With a union, the employer will be required to prove that they have “just cause” to fire or discipline a worker. This means there must be documented proof that the worker has committed wrongs that are worthy of being fired.
"Unions and union officials and representatives are corrupt."
Compared with how many CEOs and CFOs in the corporate world? It is unfortunate when official and representatives of any organization are corrupt and betray the organization. Union corruption is not a common occurrence, because of various things like audits that require them to account for their spending and the fact that the officers are accountable to the membership at large. But, like strikes, union corruption is often over-dramatized by the media to get that big story. If you have a strong union membership, and hold the officers accountable, then there is no reason for corruption to occur.
