Ed & Pat's "Union FAQ"- Half-truths and myths- Union smearing at its best

Let’s dive into some of the half-truths and myths that management is going to throw at us to scare people away from unions.  As a job aid, let's use the Union “FAQ” that Ed so thoughtfully provided with his very genuine email from last year and then was sent out again this week.   (You remember THAT email… that one he promised to “collaborate with you, gather feedback from you and implement positive solutions quickly and efficiently”)

This blog post covers the first 7 or so questions, part 2 can be found here.

Here’s question #2 for Ed’s handout:  

What do unions do? “Unions’ provide a collective bargaining service for which they charge dues, fees, and assessments and create other obligations for members”   

So Ed thinks we’d be charged dues, fees and assessments just for a bargaining service?  No wonder Ed wants to protect us from unions! Dues, fees AND assessments…for a bargaining service?!  Now why would we ever need to pay for a bargaining service?  Oh right– because someone wants to cut our wages to the bone, steal our benefits and replace us with “contingent workers”.  Here the thing, I don’t want to pay for a ‘bargaining service’ either, but that ‘bargaining service’ we’re paying for is US, WE are the Union, WE elect our local officers, WE have a voice at the bargaining table with the support of a national organization that isn’t going to get steamrolled by some $400 an hour COP lawyer.  So yeah, I’ll pay for a "bargaining service”.  Oh by the way Ed, that bargaining service also helps provide job security, protections against unfair treatment, discipline, and dismissal.  And they can help provide legal support for us when the company tries to bully us…not that they would ever do that.  How did HR Cory word that… “there’s only a few hundred slope employees so you’re not really that important”?  Sorry if I misquoted that, I wasn’t there- I was too busy actually producing oil to cover the HR guy’s salary.

Here’s another great one from Ed’s Union FAQ:

#4: What can I do if I feel intimidated to sign an authorization card?  “You have no obligation to sign an authorization card, and we believe strongly you have the right to be free from any kind of intimidation or coercion when it comes to your choice whether to be represented by a union or not be represented.”    

I am absolutely certain that the McCoys and Duker and half dozen other guys that “happened” to be pro-union got RIF’d for reasons that were completely unrelated to their vocal support of reforms…. Definitely not any intimidation, nothing like that.

This is a fun one, #7…..

Where do union dues/fees go?

“Labor unions use dues and fees to pay salaries, expenses, administrative costs , overhead, travel and benefits for union officers and employees.  A union may also use this revenue to contribute to political campaigns or promote other special interests of the union."

You’re right Ed!  A union does use dues to pay salaries and expenses, 44% of that goes to the Local salaries and expenses…,which is us.  We elect the officers and we ARE the officers.    

“When a group of workers joins the Steelworkers, a new Local Union is formed or the group joins an existing Local. This Local elects its own officers and runs its own affairs. Almost half of every dollar paid in dues* – 44% – comes back to the Local Union so that it helps pay for:

• Administration of Local Union Affairs;

• Collective Bargaining;

• Member Education Programs;

• Arbitration; and

• Sending delegates to important conferences and International Union Constitutional Conventions.”  

Here’s the breakdown of the remaining amount- 

44% funds the general operations of the union both in the United States and Canada. It supports specialized departments in the union like Corporate Research; Legal; Health, Safety and Environment; Education; Rapid Response; etc. 

7% gets stashed in the strike defense fund, which is basically strike insurance… its a $150 million fund that scares the shit of companies, even Big Oil, because it means we can weather a strike and still have a little money coming in.

The remaining 5% goes to Legislative Action, Organizing and Education.

Read up on union dues breakdowns here- https://uswlocals.org/sites/default/files/union_dues.pdf  

So Ed’s not wrong- The due pay salaries and expenses and travel costs, so just like our sweat and blood pays for the salaries and expenses of our lovely HR people, VPs and accountants. The only difference is dues paid to a union mean we get a vote and a voice on the direction of the local and a voice at the bargaining table… which is something our own company won’t provide us.   

If you'd like to see the rest of the answers to other questions in Ed/Pat's handy FAQ visit this blog post.