Copyright (c) 1998, Joongpil Cho
webshells.com/labor/imerys
| Author | Leroy Nicholson |
| Date | 00/05/13/21:05 |
| Hit Count | 563 |
| The reason former ECC paid more money on some jobs and had better benefits than former G.M. was all by design to keep the Union out. When you have a Union and a non-Union plant across the road from each other, the non-Union plant will make more and have better benefits. ALL THIS TO BUY YOUR VOICE! In a non-Union plant you have no voice. You have no grievance procedure and you have no way to solve problems. Sure, the company tells you, "If you have a problem, come see us". How many times at former E.C.C. has someone been promoted over someone else because they knew a boss man? How many times was money issues resolved to the employee's favor? In a Union shop, you are promoted by seniority when all the qualifications are the same. Monetary issues are resolved by using the contract. For example, if you are next for overtime or call ins, and you are passed over, most contracts have written ways of dealing with this. In a non-Union shop, you have no recourse. As for layoffs, in a non-Union plant, if you get laid off, you have no "recall rights" by seniority. In a non-Union plant, they don't even have to layoff by seniority! In a Union shop, layoffs are made by seniority. You are recalled by seniority, not by favoritism. All the things mentioned above are subjects of bargaining, you can spell them out in a written contract signed by management and the Union. All you have in a non-Union plant is the company's "word". Can you trust this Company? If you will stop and think, all the people pulling against the Union are the ones who make the most money and get a lot of special privileges. What these people don't realize, is a lot of money is spent when two companies are merged. One of the things a non-Union company looks at is how to recoup some of that money by replacing top paying jobs with a low paying contractor. These men think they cannot be replaced. In a non-Union environment, no one is safe. In a Union shop, all employees are treated the same under the terms of your contract. What you gain with a Union is a peace of mind that the Company must abide by the terms of a written, signed agreement, negotiated by the people for the people. Your wages are locked in, your benefits cannot be changed unless they negotiate first, and MOST of all your seniority (in this case over 14 years) means something. THINK ABOUT IT. If you have any questions, talk to your in-plant committee. Stand up for YOUR rights. Vote Yes. |