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No guarantees

 

The most important thing to know about union contract bargaining is this:

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There are no guarantees -- bargaining doesn't always mean better pay or benefits

Here's what the law says:

 

"The United States Government and the N.L.R.B. do not guarantee workers that the collective bargaining process starts from where you presently are in wages, insurance, pensions . . . and all other conditions of employment . . . nor did the government guarantee that you will lose no benefits . . ." (Automation and Measurement Div., Bendix Corp., 69 LRRM 2157)

 

“Collective Bargaining is potentially hazardous for employees and as a result of such negotiations, employees could wind up with less benefits after unionization than before.” (Coach & Equipment Sales Corp., 228 NLRB No. 51)

Here's what the Machinists' Union web site says:

 

 

 

 

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The Machinists Union says you can't lose - you negotiate up from current wages and benefits.

 

BUT WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

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  • There's NO GUARANTEE that bargaining starts with what you already have

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  • You could wind up with less than you had before the union came in.

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Which do you believe?  (Remember, unions don't have to tell you the truth)

If the Machinists Union was telling the truth, workers would never lose in bargaining.  So how do they explain these examples?

 

  • Even after going on strike at Caterpillar, the International Association of Machinists approved a six-year contract that lowered workers’ benefits and froze hourly pay for many.  

 

  • After striking for 181 days at FairPoint (the longest strike in the country during 2014), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers approved a contract that called for cuts in retirement and medical benefits. 

 

  • The IAM approved an eight-year contract extension at Boeing that called for a pension freeze and forced workers to pay more for their health insurance.   

 

  • The United Steelworkers approved a seven-year contract with Harley-Davidson that froze wages and required workers to pay more for health care expenses.  

 

  • The Teamsters union agreed to a contract with ABF Freight System that called for an immediate 7% wage cut and allows the company to use non-union drivers.  

 

  • The United Steelworkers approved a contract with the Carlyle Group covering a refinery in Philadelphia that reduced pension benefits and cut payments for overtime.  

THE BOTTOM LINE:

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When unions say you can't lose in contract bargaining, they're not telling the truth. 

 

Sometimes contracts increase pay or benefits, and sometimes contracts take pay or benefits away.

 

Nothing is guaranteed!

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