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Answers To Objections About Joining The Union
Objection:
"Why should I join the Union when I'll get exactly the
same wages and benefits without joining?"
Possible Answers:
"Right, you get all that the rest of us get. But we
could get so much more if we didn't have nonmembers. Aren't you
interested in further gains? Well, these can be won only if enough
of us want them and are willing to work to get them."
"If every worker felt as you do, we would have no Union
at all to bargain for us or to represent us in grievances. The
longer you remain a nonmember, the more difficult it is for the
Union to improve your wages and working conditions."
"Here is a card. Won't you sign it so that you too can
help to make possible the improvements we are all entitled to?"
"If everyone belonged, the benefits would be greater
and the cost would be spread among more people."
"As a nonmember, you are automatically on the side of
the employer against the Union at the bargaining table - you are
agreeing with them that the demands made by the Union are not
proper, and that you are not entitled to any improvement in wages
or working conditions. I'm sure you want to join with us to help
make improvements possible rather than be counted as one who is
against better wages and working conditions."
"The Union needs you. Your involvement and
participation will make the Union more effective. By not being a
member, you miss the sense of belonging, the friendship, the
feeling of being fully accepted by your fellow workers."
"Each person has an obligation to share equally the
cost of supporting the organization that wins the benefits. It's
just downright unfair to accept benefits that others are paying
for. Suppose your next door neighbors paid no taxes on a house and
yet sent their children to the public schools and used the roads
and other public services. Would this be fair? Of course it
wouldn't. Nor is it fair for a person to realize all the benefits
of Unionism and not pay a fair share of the cost of gaining these
benefits."
"As a nonmember, you have no vote on whether to strike;
and you have no voice in contract ratification or in election of
representatives."
Objection:
"I can't afford to join. I've got
a family to support and my check just isn't big enough." Or, "The
dues are too high."
Possible Answers:
"You can't afford not to belong. It doesn't cost to
belong to the Union. It pays in the form of job security, better
wages, and improved benefits."
"Everything of value has a price. What you should do is
to compare the value of a thing with the price you have to pay for
it. If we do this with the Union dues, I'm sure you will agree
that Union dues are a sound investment."
"Compare the cost with your returns on this investment.
Your return each year is far greater than the annual dues. And
understand, we're just talking about wage increases here. We
haven't begun to talk about the advantages of increased job
security, seniority, better working conditions, such things as
this. These are all extras that you get in return for your dues
investment."
"Did you ever stop to think how much less money you'd
be making if it were not for the Union? I'm sure that neither you
nor I could afford to work for this employer at what we would make
without a Union. If it weren't for Union, our wages would be far
less than they are, and we would receive no fringe benefits. You
owe it to yourself as well as to us to set aside a small portion
of your higher wages to help raise wages even higher in the years
ahead."
"You say you have a family to support. You owe it to
your family, above all, to be a member of a Union that ensures job
security, wage increases, and fringe benefits. Your family
benefits directly from all of these."
If the nonmember makes a specific reference to an
inability to pay bills, mention the counseling service of the
Union (if this is available) and how Union members with financial
problems are afforded help.
If the nonmember pleads debt problems, mention the
availability of the credit Union, if you have one, and how a Union
member can borrow money at lower interest rates than are
obtainable from a bank or finance company.
Objection:
"I don't believe in Unions."
Possible Answers:
Point out what Unions have done historically. Describe
how things were in American industry before Unions. Workers were
fired at the whim of management or arbitrarily at the age of 40.
Describe the extremely low wages, long hours, no fringe benefits,
no unemployment compensation, no social security, no workers'
compensation. Stress not only the contract gains but also the
efforts of labor to enact better laws and create better
communities.
"Unions are just associations of people banded together
for mutual protection and benefit. Everyone - farmers, merchants,
bankers, lawyers, utility companies - everyone joins together
today to increase their effectiveness. Why not workers?"
"The newspapers do their best to make Unions look bad,
and this is understandable since employers spend a lot of money on
ads. But prove things for yourself - join us, come to our
meetings, and then decide whether Unions are good or bad."
Try to find out the specific reason behind this
objection, and then try to correct the false impression the
employee has.
Objection:
"I don't need a
Union; the employer is fair. The employer
will take care of us without a Union. I get along fine with my boss.
What has the Union gotten for us that we wouldn't have gotten
anyway?"
Possible
Answers:
"This is a good place to work now, and the Union played
a big part in making this so. But of course, this is no reason why
we shouldn't try to make it an even better place to work. Your job
has been made more pleasant and secure because of the Union
representation afforded you on the job. Your supervisor has to
treat you fairly since the contract requires that he or she do so.
The employer is fair because the Union is always looking over its
shoulder. Even so, almost every employee at one time or another
has a grievance or complaint. That's where the Union comes in."
Rely on history, and point out the job security clause
in the contract including the final step of arbitration. Explain
about conditions of work, including low wages and poor working
conditions before Union. You might want to call in an older worker
to give a firsthand account. Discuss the history of bargaining in
the specific bargaining unit. You might contrast the first offers
of the employer versus the final settlement and show the
difference in terms of cents per hour or dollars per year. Point
out that the employer often admits that the Union forces them to
grant more than they would like to grant. You might want to use a
prepared sheet showing Union gains over the years. Also point out
specific grievances the Union has won (use cases that you
personally are familiar with).
"The employer will treat you well so long as this is
the profitable thing for them to do. But you're like the rest of
us. We're merely numbers on a page. There's no room for sentiment
or humanity in this employer or any other giant firm today. The
Union provides protection from arbitrary and unfair treatment by
the employer."
"You never know when you might need the help of the
Union. The Union has been able to get a clause in the contract
that assures employees fair treatment if the need should ever
arise. If too many people felt the way you feel, there would be no
Union and no protection for anyone."
Point out that very frequently personality clashes
arise between employees and supervisors. Ask: "What would you do
if this should happen to you? What would you be able to do to help
yourself if the employer fired or demoted or otherwise mistreated
you?"
"Individuals may not know their rights under the law
and under the contract. In today's complex world, organizations of
all sorts are necessary to achieve any important objectives. This
is the reason for the Union. The Union has to be able to bargain
from strength in order to adequately protect employees from
arbitrary treatment, to get better wages, longer vacations, more
adequate pensions, and so on."
Point to the article in the contract which makes Union
the sole bargaining agent. This means that the employer as well as
the government recognizes that only Union is able to speak for all
of the employees. The employees can't by law deal directly with
the employer.
Objection:
"I'm only going to be working here a short while (on a
temporary or part-time job)."
Possible Answers:
"Even if you do leave within a few months, you are
receiving all the benefits that all the rest of us pay for while
you are here, and we think it only right that you pay your share
while you remain on the job."
"While you are with us, we want you to be one of us. We
want you to fit in with the group and be an equal. You will enjoy
it more and we will enjoy having you."
"Whether you stay here six months or thirty years,
you'll get full benefits and full protection while you are
employed."
"Who knows, you might decide to stay on, or you might
decide to return a year or five years from now. You know that we
have a leave of absence and job return policy. You can get a
withdrawal card from the Union if you do decide to leave."
Objection:
"My spouse would divorce me." Or, "My parents don't like
Unions."
Possible
Answers:
Find out why the spouse or parent objects. Offer to sit
down and talk things over. Offer to go home that very evening with
the nonmember to discuss the matter with the relative. (House
calls are very successful.)
"Your (husband, wife, father, etc.) lets you work and
accepts your contribution to the household. They should let you do
your part to make your job more pleasant and better paying. You're
the one who is working on the job. You put up with the working
conditions. You get the paycheck. You know better than anyone else
whether a Union is good for you. Let me visit your home and
discuss this matter with you and your family this very evening."
Objection:
"The Union doesn't do anything for you (as in, grievances
are not settled satisfactorily)." Or, "I don't like the people who
are running things in the Union."
Possible Answers:
Insist upon specifics - the specific grievance the
nonmember has in mind. Check out the problem, obtain the facts,
and report back to the nonmember. Concede that the Union can make
mistakes, but point out that many grievances have been won, again
being specific.
"Officers and stewards do their jobs the best way they
know how. If you or someone you know has not been treated fairly,
tell us about it so that it can be remedied."
"Your local officers and stewards work for this
employer just as you and I do. They need lots of training,
experience, and help from you to do the job well. Your signature
on this card will give you the right and the opportunity to help
in running this Union better." Point out that the members have an
obligation to replace those officers and stewards who continue to
do their job poorly.
"You are the Union. You can get involved and run for
office to help change the things you don't like."
Enumerate the contract benefits - choice of hours,
vacations, sick benefits. Remind the nonmember that these didn't
come automatically.
Discuss the need to use the grievance procedure
properly. Frequently some of the complaints we have about
grievances occur because the proper procedure was not followed.
"Hundreds of grievances are settled satisfactorily. But
with 100 percent membership, we could do an even better job of
investigating and processing grievances."
Objection:
"I can't afford to strike. How can I be sure I won't be
out on strike? I don't believe in strikes."
Possible Answers:
"It's up to the members to decide whether to strike. Of
course, if you're not a Union member you will have no say
whatsoever in the matter."
"When Unions are weak, employers force them to strike
or else accept low wages or poor working conditions. But if Unions
are big enough to hurt the employer in a strike, management will
offer more and thereby avoid a strike. In short, if workers are
unified, a strike is less likely."
"Strikes are very infrequent in this Union."
"Do you know about the Union's defense fund? If workers
are forced out on strike by an impossible employer position, this
fund exists to assist members in meeting their more important
bills. We now have millions of dollars in the defense fund so that
no one will go without or be badly hurt if we are forced to
strike."
"Year after year, less than one-fifth of one percent of
all working time is lost by strikes. Now this is only a small
fraction of the time lost through layoffs or industrial accidents
or other sickness. You read in the newspaper about strikes
because, of course, strikes are news. You never read in the
newspapers about the hundreds and thousands of negotiations that
are settled without the necessity of a strike. What I'm trying to
say is that strikes are really very unusual."
Objection:
"I can handle my own affairs. I can take care of myself.
I'll make my own decisions. I don't intend to stay on this job
forever; I'm looking for a promotion."
Possible Answers:
"This may be true, but the chances are that you might
need help somewhere along the way. Besides, all your fellow
employees aren't as fortunate. They need help. They need your
help."
"You are working in a large industry and necessarily
are a cog in a very large machine. Unless you fit into this
machine, you are not a desirable employee, so your future depends
in large part on your ability to get along with everyone,
including your fellow workers."
Objection:
"My religion doesn't permit me to
belong to any outside organization."
Possible Answers:
"I've never heard of a faith that bars membership in a
Union. I would like to discuss this matter with you and with your
pastor so that we can clear up any misunderstandings. Unions have
always worked closely with churches. Our goals are similar: to
help our fellow human beings."
Follow through on this. Contact the pastor or minister.
Verify the church's policy and report back to the nonmember.
"Your religion and all other religions teach you to
love your neighbor, to be responsible for your brother's welfare.
And that is what the Union is designed to do. There is no conflict
between the goals of Unions and religions."
Objection:
"My boss doesn't believe in
Unions. I've seen what
happens to Union members."
Possible Answers:
"It used to be that many supervisors didn't like
Unions, but most of these have either changed their ways or have
been transferred."
"At one time, supervisors were virtual dictators with
power to hire or fire you on the spot. Now they must live up to
the contract and treat people with respect. If a supervisor can't
do this, management will get rid of them."
"The law, the contract, and public policy guarantee you
the right to join and engage in Union activity."
Objection:
"I don't want anything to do with
Unions. They're all
corrupt."
Possible
Answers:
Show the nonmember a copy of Union's constitution and
point out how the constitution assures democratic procedures and
membership control of the Union.
Point out that membership in the Union gives you a
right to choose your own officers and to correct abuses.
Objection:
"I don't know enough about
Union or the Union movement."
Possible
Answers:
"The officers of the local Union and I will be glad to
sit down with you anytime, any place, and tell you everything you
might want to know about Union and answer any questions you might
have. After you've learned some of the history of the Union and
how it operates, I'm sure you will want to become a member of
Union."
"What do you need to know about Union? Our Union is honestly run; it is efficient; and it is
democratic."
Objection:
"I'm not interested. I just don't want to join."
Possible
Answers:
"You can't afford not to be interested in the Union.
What happens in the Union and between the Union and the employer
affects you; it affects all employees. Contract negotiations,
grievances, etc., concern everyone in one way or another."
It might be necessary to go into a general explanation
of the reasons people join Unions.
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