It's my time and effort and I can do whatever I want with it. If you think its stupid, then you will think what you will. Ability to think and do things that someone else disagrees with or finds stupid is FREEDOM, which I hope you believe in.
I'm sure you feel the same way about OWS.
I do now, but a month ago I didn't have a clear understanding, neither did you. The fact is, before I corrected you, you believed that one can be required to join the union in order to work in some states before I corrected you. It was cleared up after you did some research, so I don't automatically assume you did this with malice to trick people. Just as you believed that was true, there are people out there who thinks so too.
BS. We're supposed to believe that you were completely ignorant about the Union laws in your state, yet just 'found' rtw.org and became enlightened so easily.
So, you learned the correct fact here. Other new prospects and hires may come across this thread and clear the misconception they've been instilled. If they don't believe me, I at least hope that it inspires them(as it did you) to go verify it against credible sources; rather than blindly believing what they were told at new work place or what I said.
Yes, we have so many prospective hires that come here seeking advice.
I wish I knew this well in advance. How many of the seasonal hires are advised of this straight up?
I'm not advocating them to do one way or the other, but I hope that this is informative in helping them understand the options they have and to make that choice for themselves.
How many temp helpers end up chalking up the dues they paid as irrecoverable cost? Do they give it up voluntarily after having been advised of the said option upfront? I sure wasn't and that's a total shame!
It's been repeated several times that dues are tax deductible. What, they don't tell you that at rtw.org?
You do realize that "contract" you believe in is negotiated right? Negotiation is multiple parties expressing their own needs and coming to an agreement that all can agree on. It is not one side saying what they want to say and refusing to have any of the other parties say.
We have contract proposal meetings where any member can suggest a proposal. Those proposals are then discussed and voted on. Then, armed with the proposals, our respective officers negotiate with the company on our behalf. Then we have meetings discussing the way negotiations went and what the final contract ended up looking like (the Union also has the right to reject the contract outright if it is so bad). If negotiations are not going well we will have meetings to discuss why and have a 'strike authorization vote' to arm our negotiators with that power at the bargaining table. Ultimately a contract is put to the members for a general vote. If you are hired while a contract is in place you must work under than contract until the next one is negotiated where you have the right to suggest proposals. To suggest that we should give every new hire the right to 'agree' to the current contract is about the most asinine idea I have ever heard but truly explains why you ignorantly signed your union papers.
I think that my posts convey my side of argument clearly. If not, I did the best I can
please ask. I can't guarantee the result, but
I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN to clarify it.
We were not given the opportunity to take the paperwork home to complete at our own pace nor a number to call with questions.
Which is generally true at virtually every employer. Apparently you needed your mother to hold your hand through the process. Perhaps you should have called her.
If I read all the terms & conditions printed in their favor in 3 point font on streaky photocopied page in legalese and asked a whole bunch of questions I might have caught it, but I didn't. I must be ignorant. It's just my opinion but putting people in this position is unconscionable.
I highly doubt the membership application was how you describe it. I'm looking at ours and it has the big Teamster logo right on top with APPLICATION in 1/2 inch high bold letters and then For Membership in Local Union No.____ in 3/8" high bold letters (size 5 in the BC text editor I'm using to write this post). The rest of the application reads as follows in large type on the pink copy that should have been given to you. (emphasis added by me):
I voluntarily submit this Application for Membership in Local Union ____ affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, so that I may fully participate in the activities of the Union. I understand that by becoming and remaining a member of the Union, I will be entitled to attend membership meetings, participate in the development of contract proposals for collective bargaining, vote to ratify or reject collective bargaining agreements, run for Union office or support candidates of my choice, receive Union publications and take advantage of programs available only to Union members. I understand that only as a member of the Union will I be able to determine the course the Union takes to represent me in negotiations to improve my wages, fringe benefits and working conditions. And, I understand that the Union's strength and ability to represent my interests depends upon my exercising my right, as guaranteed by federal law, to join the Union and engage in collective activities with my fellow workers.
I understand that I am under no legal or contractual obligation to become a member of the Union. Under the current law, I can satisfy any contractual obligation necessary to retain my employment by paying an amount equal to the uniform dues and initiation fee required of members of the Union. I also understand that if I elect to not become a member, I may pay a service fee which is limited to a proportionate share of the expenditures necessary to support the Union's activities as my collective bargaining representative. If I elect to not become a member, the Union will provide additional information concerning the amount of the service fee based upon it's most recent allocation of its expenditures which are devoted to activities which are germane to its performance as my bargaining representative, upon my request .The law permits service fee payers to challenge the correctness of this calculation. Procedures for filing such challenges will be provided by the Union, upon request.
I have read and understand the options available to me and submit this application to be admitted as a member of the Local Union.
What is so unclear about any of that?
You know, like credit card interest policies that say all late payments get applied to the lowest interest rate loan first so that highest interest loan stays in delinquency as long as possible. When you break out the agreement and go through with a fine toothed comb several times you might find it somewhere.
Funny, I read all that stuff before I sign up for a credit card.
Again, all they've had to do was to put these relevant facts on front page in normal font in plain language.
It's plain enough that someone with less than a year in High School could understand it. I'm sure these forms have survived any legal challenges but if you are so inclined feel free to exercise your right to sue.
By the way, isn't it lovely when someone have you sign something that reads "please see reverse side for all terms & conditions" and the back side isn't even printed, yet when you ask them to produce it, they can't locate it? They get you to sign it to get you through the moment and when something goes wrong, that magic backside gets found and they'll find out something phrased in their favor to leave you hanging.e
The back sides are all blank. You are filling out a form in triplicate.
If I was to treat everyone with presumption of malice, read every word single word before signing and ask questions about everything I don't understand(which in many cases the person I'm interacting won't be able to answer) I'll catch many things, but I don't like doing that.
You have better learn to have a healthy skepticism and start reading what you sign or you will have a lifetime of getting screwed. Actually, I have some great property I'd love to sell you at a killer discount. Email me.
So, long answer short I feel that an organization that says to be advocating for employees should have everything laid out for employees in PLIAN ENGLISH and all the key points in large font. I think its only fair to make avail all options with ease. So, this means
"Yes/No"
We know how you RTW'ers like to knock Union members, but we aren't of the 'hanging chad' variety.
Not, by "default it is yes. For any other option you have to figure out who to contact, then from there you've got to make the right contact to opt.
Default it 'no' by not signing. Everything in life you sign for you are agreeing to: credit card receipts, loans, checks, car purchase orders, contracts. Unless you are mentally challenged or in dementia, your signature is your bond.
I believe in honesty. I don't think writing up a contract that opts someone in for the writer's favor and burying the other options in legal mumbo jumbo or omitting entirely is honest.