Who decides
It's important to understand: it's the union, not the members, who decides what to accept or reject during bargaining.
Unions say the opposite, telling workers they would be the ones who decide.
Here's what the International Association of Machinists union told team members at SunCoke:
What happened at Boeing shows how it really works!
When IAM members rejected a proposed contract the union wanted them to accept, the union forced them to vote again - and made sure that the contract was accepted.
Here's the whole story:
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The request: in 2013, Boeing went to the IAM and asked to renegotiate the contract that covered 30,000 union workers in Seattle in order to reduce their labor costs. There were three years left on the existing contract.
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The promise: the IAM could have refused, but they didn’t. Why? Because Boeing said they would hire thousands of new workers to build a new airplane in Seattle if the IAM renegotiated the contract -- and go somewhere else if they didn’t. Millions of potential dollars in dues for the IAM was at stake.
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The proposal: Boeing and the IAM negotiated a new contract with major reductions in worker pensions, 300% increases in employee payments for health insurance, 100% increases in employee co-pays, and major cuts in wage increases.
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The first vote: the members didn’t care whether the IAM got millions more dollars in dues -- they wanted to protect what they already had. So 67% voted against the contract.
The Machinists International Union ordered another vote. This time it was in December, when nearly 25% of the members were away on vacation. In order to vote, members needed an eligibility card – and the IAM didn't mail cards to thousands of members. Those who didn’t get cards had to go to the front desk of the union hall to ask for one. Since only 3 people were working at the desk, thousands of members spent two hours or more waiting in line -- in the cold.
The final vote: far fewer members voted in the second election. The contract was just barely approved, 51% to 49%.
To learn more, click here.
How did the members feel about losing pay raises while paying more for their health insurance?
IAM District 751 spokesperson Connie Kelliher said: “Members are very upset…our international president forced this vote…”
The Machinists Union has forced other workers to accept contracts they voted against.
At New Process Steel, the IAM forced members to accept a contract that kept them from voting the union out. The members filed this unfair labor practice charge against the IAM:
What do you think the National Labor Relations Board said?
You might be surprised to learn - the NLRB dismissed the charges because "the union's ratification procedure was consistent with its constitution and by-laws and its past practice."
In other words, that's how the IAM always does things, so it's all right according to the NLRB!
To see the NLRB ruling, click here.
Almost every union says in their constitution that the International Union - NOT THE MEMBERS - controls that side of the bargaining table. For example:
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Steelworkers: The International Union shall be the contracting party in all collective bargaining agreements and all such agreements shall be signed by the international officers. Article XVII, p. 70.
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International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers: No Local Union shall put into effect any bylaw, amendment, rule or agreement of any kind without first securing such approval. All these shall be null and void without International President approval. Article 15, Section 6, p. 45.
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Utility Workers: All contracts entered into by local unions shall be between the employer and the National Union on behalf of the local union involved, and shall be signed by local officers and a designated representative of the National Union. Article VII, Section 4, pp. 24-25.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
When the IAM passed out the flyer to SunCoke team members, they knew they weren't telling the truth.
It doesn't matter what the members want.
Even though it's YOUR pay and benefits, UNION OFFICIALS decide what to accept or give away based on what THEY want.