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Question:
What will be in our first union contract?
Answer:
The newly created local union will elect a negotiating committee with employee representatives from all work areas and shifts to negotiate a contract.
When a union committee sits down to bargain a contract with management, negotiations start from whatever conditions exist at that time. They will propose positive changes to the current conditions. This means better wages, better benefits and better working conditions.
Before negotiations begin, the committee will develop proposals in consultation with all employees. Everyone’s input will be allowed through meetings and surveys.
The committee will be trained and assisted by professional USW negotiators and you will have USW attorneys to assist you as well, if needed.
Things that employees are satisfied with are secured in a contract. Areas that need improvement become the focus of negotiations with the employer.
After the contract is negotiated, it cannot take effect unless it is voted to be accepted (ratified) by a majority of employees. No worker would vote for a contract unless it was an improvement over what existed before. Without this vote, there can be no contract.
You do not pay any dues throughout the negotiation process.
You begin paying dues only after the contract is accepted by employees.
Question:
Membership dues. When do we begin paying?
Answer:
As in any nonprofit organization, dues are used to pay the operating expenses. In the Union, that includes office space, representatives' salaries, printing, phones, arbitration, legal costs, strike fund contributions, training programs, etc.
No initiation fee for newly organized members like yourselves.
No one pays dues until after a contract has been negotiated and accepted by the members through a majority vote.
Question:
Membership dues. How much are they?
Answer:
Dues are paid based on the amount you make. There is no set monthly rate.
Dues are 1.3% of your gross, or figure 13.00 dollars per thousand dollars made per month, plus 2 cents per hour for an organizing fund.
Even if you vote yes to have representation, it does not mean you will start paying dues.
You only pay dues after a majority of the employees vote to accept a contract.
You will be able to see the improvements to wages and benefits a contract brings before you pay dues.
In almost all cases, wage increases gained by first contract negotiations more than pay for dues
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ORGANIZING
