1)
We're all Democrats
·
Incorrect - Unions are as diverse as any other group
of people with differing opinions on a variety of topics. Many if not most
union workers have families and conservative views in some areas and more
progressive views on others. Most local unions are party agnostic, and focus on
siding with candidates that support American workers and a pathway to the
middle class. We are for the rights,
dignity of working people, signified by fair pay for a fair days work, and we
support politicians who believe in that, regardless of political party.
2)
You Have to Pay to go to work
·
Wrong - The fact is that belonging to any organization
with collective benefits requires that you pay dues. Any club, team, gym, or
professional organization will require dues of some sort or they wouldn't
exist. The good news is that with your
union dues, you get the benefit of collectively bargained benefits, retirement,
and pension options that most employers cannot match. In a union, your benefits are above and
beyond what you take home on your check rather than having to pay for benefits
that are "offered" with a non-union contractor.
Union dues are miniscule in comparison to what the union member gets in
return.
3)
Unions are Un-American
·
Not True - Every single union function we've
ever attended…every. single. one…commences with members standing, removing
their hats, placing their hand over hearts and repeating the Pledge of
Allegiance in unison, followed closely by leading the group in giving thanks to
God in form of a prayer. Unions have so
many members that have served in the United States Military that there are
veterans chapters in some local union chapters.
Union meetings are among of the most patriotic events you
can ever attend and every union member we've ever met is proud to be an
American. Most go out of their way to buy American-made goods to support
American workers. The right to band
together with one another for the betterment of pay, working conditions,
training, and safety, and to belong to a cause greater than each individual
member is about as patriotic as it gets.
4)
We're lazy and take breaks all the time
·
Laughable - Another ridiculous accusation, often
made by non-union employers. Union workers are some of the hardest workers in
the industry. Most CBA employer contracts allow for brief breaks in order that
you get the proper respite to stay safe on the job. A tired worker is far more likely to be
injured on the job and breaks are a way to ensure the worker is taken care of. The
apprenticeship training model that undergirds most unions focuses not only on
the training and expertise necessary to learn the skills needed to be an expert
in your trade, but also the safety protocols necessary for members to arrive,
work, and leave the jobsite as safely as possible. It's why union job sites are known to be safer
than non-union sites as a general rule.
5)
You get laid off a lot
·
No more than anyone else in Construction -Construction
of any sort is the only job where you are working your way out of a job the
moment you start. Projects are finite by
definition. They begin by breaking
ground and end with a certificate of occupancy so layoffs are an inevitable
part of the industry and not specific to the unions. Most union contractors are booked out several
years in advance so employees move from project to project, but the good thing
is that upon completion of a project and layoff, union members can come to the
hall, sign the book, and be referred out on another jobsite immediately without
having to go through the rigmarole of finding another company. Plus with a union journeyman's ticket you can
go to any number of other markets and go to work immediately.
6)
You don't need to join a union if you
work for a good company
·
Many companies who are signatory to a union are
good employers BECAUSE of the union.
There are standards and bylaws in place specifically to protect the
worker from being exploited. The
standardize apprenticeship track, training protocols, and classification
hierarchy ensure that the employers know exactly what he or she is getting in
terms of work capacity and expertise and it makes bidding work more accurate
with less change-orders and overruns.
7)
Unions go on strike
·
Nope. Strikes are an extremely rare
occurrence. In fact many unions in the
building trades have no-strike clauses in their constitution. There is a
standard arbitration process that allows for most employee/employee disputes to
be resolved in an expedient manner. Only
when employers are treating workers unfairly.
If workers do not band together for the rights and fair compensation of
their members, no one will.
8)
If you're a part of an effort to
organize, your employer will fire you.
·
Not true.
There are protections in place that allow you to freely organize without
the threat of retribution. If someone
tells you that you'll be fired for simply exploring your right to organize
together as employees, they are in violation of the law. The Pro-Act will also help ensure that workers
are allowed to freely organize without pressure or intimidation from their
employer, even in right-to-work states.