One of the most prevalent company anti-union tactics is the threat of high union dues or strikes. In a recent campaign by employees who wanted to join the IAM, one employer went so far as to issue fake paychecks right before the vote, with an extremely meager take-home amount and a letter attached that it's all these potential union members would get after the IAM robbed them of all their money for dues. Another employer hired a firm to create a website including videos of what appeared to be paid actors portraying striking union members trouncing on cars and acting belligerently on a picket line. Some companies will go to almost any lengths to keep you from voting in your own best interest.
The truth is, it doesn't cost, it PAYS to be union.
Here are the facts:
The Company Will Say:
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You may pay as much as $300 a month in union dues.
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You may be charged $1000 initiation fee.
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You could wind up paying large assessments to the union per their constitution.
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You could be fined for not attending union meetings, or for saying something the union doesn't like at a union meeting.
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If you vote for the union, you will probably wind up going out on strike.
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The Truth Is:
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The IAM typically waives dues until we prove ourselves by negotiating a contract that is voted upon and ratified by the workers. When dues do begin, they are generally two times the average hourly rate of the workers in the unit, plus some local and/or district fees.
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The IAM normally waives initiation and reinstatement fees for all employees who become members in a newly organized facility.
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There has not been an assessment under the IAM constitution since 1922. In order for an assessment to occur, representatives from Local Lodges across the US and Canada would have to agree to change our constitution at the Grand Lodge Convention, which meets every four years.
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You cannot be fined for not attending union meetings, or for exercising your right to "Freedom of Speech" at union meetings. Fines can occur if a person is found guilty of misusing dues money.
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98% of all IAM contracts are settled without a strike. Strikes are rarely used, and not likely to happen if the employer is negotiating in good faith. Also, the IAM cannot force members to strike - ever. The IAM constitution requires a two-thirds majority of the voting membership that will actually be working under the contract to authorize a strike, and only eligible members can cast a ballot - union representatives do not have a vote and cannot force you to strike.
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