Union membership, collective bargaining, and other stuff...

What is all this stuff I keep hearing about? What is "collective bargaining"? What is a "union" good for?  Where does my dues money go? 

Why should I be envolved? Why is all this important to me?

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

If you ask yourself any of these questions without finding an answer, I hope that I can provide one for you.

In America, our founding fathers wanted "We the people" to have a say in their outcome. That statement, of course, is a generalized one. It doesn't touch on the reality of whom it was that had that "say" in the beginning as well as it does not define the struggles to equalize the opportunity for all people to have a voice in our society. Those struggles are a part of the ongoing process to "create a more perfect union". It took, and continues to take, many voices to fortify this America as a union, a DEMOCRACY.

Unions are a WORKPLACE DEMOCRACY. Unions vote for their leaders who then having the support of the group, negotiate for the work conditions for its people. This action is referred to as collective bargaining. One person cannot stand up to a corporation but the power of UNITY/SOLIDARITY cannot be defeated. Unions were born out of necessity, and continue today from that same necessity. The basic rights that unions have fought for from the start are continuously today being fought against by greed.

Members tend to talk about the "Union" as an entity that exist without their envolvement.

THE UNION IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS ENVOLVED/ ENGAGED MEMBERSHIP!

The best person to protect your job is YOU. Make your voice heard. YOU have the right to have say in how your union dues is being spent. YOU have the right to speak up against safety violations. YOU have the right to speak up about harrassment in the workplace. Your involvement is neccessary.

BEING A UNION MEMBER IS NOT A STATE OF BEING, IT IS AN ACTION!

Join the fight!!!

YOU NEED YOUR HELP!

ASK YOUR UNION PRESIDENT HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR UNION

Workplace Democracy