1. Employers frequently try to play on the emotions of workers who are talking about organizing — either to make them feel bad about it or to scare them out of it.
CORRECT! Employers often tell workers they'll do better for them if given "another chance"; they've been known to talk about the company as a "family" and lament that a union will disrupt the company's "family-like environment — sometimes even tearfully. On the other hand, many times employers will use scare tactics, like parking moving trucks by entrances close to a union vote to make employees think their vote could cost them their job.
WRONG! Employers often tell workers they'll do better for them if given "another chance"; they've been known to talk about the company as a "family" and lament that a union will disrupt the company's "family-like environment — sometimes even tearfully. On the other hand, many times employers will use scare tactics, like parking moving trucks by entrances close to a union vote to make employees think their vote could cost them their job.
2. “Union bosses” decide how and when there’s a strike; workers have no say in it.
WRONG! Only by majority vote of union members affected can a CWA strike be authorized.
CORRECT! Only by majority vote of union members affected can a CWA strike be authorized.
3. If you become part of a union, you can no longer talk directly to your manager or supervisor.
WRONG! When you're part of a union, you are entitled to have union representation in any meeting with a manager or supervisor that you believe could impact your employment. But you don't have to. There are no union rules about whether or not you can talk to managers or supervisors.
CORRECT! When you're part of a union, you are entitled to have union representation in any meeting with a manager or supervisor that you believe could impact your employment. But you don't have to. There are no union rules about whether or not you can talk to managers or supervisors.
4. It is legal to fire employees for union organizing activity.
WRONG! It is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act to fire employees for trying to organize a union.
CORRECT! It is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act to fire employees for trying to organize a union.
5. Union workers make more money than non-union workers.
CORRECT! Nationwide, union workers are paid more than non-union workers.
WRONG! Nationwide, union workers are paid more than non-union workers.
6. Employers that promise changes to policies and procedures and say they’ll give raises if workers abandon an organizing campaign generally keep their promises.
WRONG! Typically they do not. The make promises to head off the organizing effort, then find a way to claw back those gains, even if slyly -- e.g., by raising employee costs on something unrelated.
CORRECT! Typically they do not. The make promises to head off the organizing effort, then find a way to claw back those gains, even if slyly -- e.g., by raising employee costs on something unrelated.
7. Unionization is risky because negotiations often result in workers getting less pay and benefits than they had before.
WRONG! If this were the case, employers would be clamoring for negotiations!
CORRECT! If this were the case, employers would be clamoring for negotiations!
8. Union dues are offset by improvements in pay and benefits.
CORRECT! Union members get better healthcare benefits, retirement packages and pay.
WRONG! Union members get better healthcare benefits, retirement packages and pay.
9. It was important to have unions back in the early 20th century, when things were really bad, but not anymore.
WRONG! It's true that things were really, really bad in the early 20th century. But there are still many abuses of workers in this country, and we need unions to ensure we don't go back to the way things used to be.
CORRECT! It's true that things were really, really bad in the early 20th century. But there are still many abuses of workers in this country, and we need unions to ensure we don't go back to the way things used to be.
10. CWA is a strong union with the resources to support its workers and continue working for good middle-class jobs.
CORRECT! CWA is a strong union with the resources to support its workers and continue working for good middle-class jobs.
WRONG! CWA is a strong union with the resources to support its workers and continue working for good middle-class jobs