Recently the Company posted a Notice to Employees to explain your "rights" as a Union member. The notice repeats information already provided to you by the Union - that is, under a union security clause, you have the right to remain a nonmember and to object to paying certain fees.  The Company said they were complying with President George W. Bush's Executive Order. Well, here's the rest of the story:

The wages and benefits you receive are the result of the collective bargaining process -- not a gift from the Company.

Without the legal protections of a collective bargaining agreement, the Company can change or even eliminate health insurance, vacations and holidays, pensions, and many other benefits you enjoy.

You and your co-workers voted to require all employees to pay monthly fees to the Union because every employee benefits from the hard-won collective bargaining agreement.

Without the supported of all employees, the Union's ability to protect and improve your wages and benefits in the future suffer.

Employees who don't pay their fair share, strengthen the Company's hand in any upcoming negotiations.

For the pennies saved, they give up their rights to attend Union membership and bargaining meetings, to vote for Union officers, to vote on contracts and strikes, to forge their own futures.
 

There are dozens of federal and state laws that the labor movement helped pass that deal with critical worker "rights"  -- laws to ensure:
 

• That workers are safe and healthy at work,
• That workers are free from discrimination and harassment,
• That workers can take time off for family emergencies,
  That workers are protected from unfair bargaining tactics.

Why hasn't the Company told you about these worker rights?  Because knowledge is power, and unity increases that power. Which is why the Company only told you part of the story - to weaken your Union and weaken you!
 
 

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