Questions Asked About the Union

Questions Asked About the Union

Q & A

  • Won't it mean more money for me if a union gets in?

    • Answer: NO, not necessarily. All a union can do is represent the employees and ask the Employer for more money on your behalf.

  • If a union wins an election, will the Employer automatically have to agree to a union’s demands?

    • Answer: No, the Company does not have to agree to any demand that it does not feel is good for business and might be harmful to the company.

  • Do negotiations start immediately after an election?

    • Answer: It is possible the union or the Company can appeal the results of the election which could take weeks, months or years to resolve. During this time the Company generally cannot make any improvements to wages or benefits during the appeal of the Election.

  • How long can negotiations take?

    • Answer: Negotiations can take weeks, months or years to complete. During this time the Company generally cannot make any unilateral improvements to wages or benefits.

  • Is it possible at the end of negotiations you can lose wages and benefits?

    • Answer: Yes. It is possible at the end of negotiations you could lose wages and benefits, stay the same or gain

      wages and benefits.

    • Q & A

  • If the union calls a strike can the company hire permanent strike replacements?

    • Answer: Yes. Under the law, the Company is free to hire permanent strike replacements if there is an economic strike.

  • If the Union call on you to strike, will you continue to get paid?

    • Answer: NO. The minute you strike, your pay stops and you cannot receive unemployment insurance or even

      food stamps. However, the Union still gets paid.

  • Will it cost me anything to join a union?

    • Answer: Yes. As a union member you commit yourself to pay dues, initiation fees and possibly fines. It is possible at the end of negotiations you might not get enough of an increase in wages to cover this added tax. In fact, if you do not pay your dues, it is possible the Company might have to fire you if the company has a union shop provision in their contract.

  • If you have signed a union card, does this mean you still have to vote for the Union?

    • Answer: No. You still have the right to vote "No" against the union in the secret ballot election.

    • Q & A

  • Won't it mean more money for me if a union gets in?

    • Answer: NO, not necessarily. All a union can do is represent the employees and ask the Employer for more money on your behalf.

  • If a union wins an election, will the Employer automatically have to agree to a union’s demands?

    • Answer: No, the Company does not have to agree to any demand that it does not feel is good for business and might be harmful to the company.

  • Do negotiations start immediately after an election?

    • Answer: It is possible the union or the Company can appeal the results of the election which could take weeks, months or years to resolve. During this time the Company generally cannot make any improvements to wages or benefits during the appeal of the Election.

  • How long can negotiations take?

    • Answer: Negotiations can take weeks, months or years to complete. During this time the Company generally cannot make any unilateral improvements to wages or benefits.

  • Is it possible at the end of negotiations you can lose wages and benefits?

    • Answer: Yes. It is possible at the end of negotiations you could lose wages and benefits, stay the same or gain

      wages and benefits.

    • Q & A

  • If the union calls a strike can the company hire permanent strike replacements?

    • Answer: Yes. Under the law, the Company is free to hire permanent strike replacements if there is an economic strike.

  • If the Union call on you to strike, will you continue to get paid?

    • Answer: NO. The minute you strike, your pay stops and you cannot receive unemployment insurance or even

      food stamps. However, the Union still gets paid.

  • Will it cost me anything to join a union?

    • Answer: Yes. As a union member you commit yourself to pay dues, initiation fees and possibly fines. It is possible at the end of negotiations you might not get enough of an increase in wages to cover this added tax. In fact, if you do not pay your dues, it is possible the Company might have to fire you if the company has a union shop provision in their contract.

  • If you have signed a union card, does this mean you still have to vote for the Union?

    • Answer: No. You still have the right to vote "No" against the union in the secret ballot election.

    • VOTE ''NO'' AGAINST THE UNION 

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