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ABOUT THE UNION
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| Q.
Who are the members of the Machinists Union? |
A.
Nearly a million men and women who work in more than 350 job
classifications or industries, as defined by the U.S. Department of
Labor, in the commercial, manufacturing, non-manufacturing, private,
public, Federal, state and local government sectors of our nation's
economy. They live in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Panama, Puerto Rico, and the 10 provinces of Canada. Although the
Machinists Union began as a railroad union, today it has one of the
most diversified memberships of any organization of its kind. |
| Q.
What are some major industries employing IAM members? |
A.
Aerospace, air transport and auto repair are three industries where
the Machinists Union is the largest, or among the largest, unions
representing employees. They work in occupations ranging from front
office, computer, clerical, medical and technical positions all the
way to the shop floor as tool and die makers, machinists,
production, maintenance and security jobs.
Machinists Union members are also
employed in metal products manufacturing facilities, on the
railroads, in the Federal, state and local government, and in
design, construction, repair, support and maintenance work in an
almost endless variety of skills and occupational endeavors. |
| Q.
How many employers have contracts with the Machinists Union? |
A.
A total of 6,338 employers have contracts with the Machinists Union.
They cover members in the smallest one-employee shops to workers at
giant multi-billion-dollar conglomerates--most of them on Fortune
Magazine's list of the nations' top 500 corporations. |
| Q.
Are most Machinists Union members actually machinists? |
A.
No. Originally, Machinists Union members were all skilled craftsmen.
Today, however, the union's membership includes, professional,
office, clerical, computer, technical and medical employees, as well
as journey men and apprentice craft persons, helpers, production,
maintenance and specialists of all kinds. Membership includes women
and workers from nearly all racial, ethnic, and religious
groups. |
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ABOUT AUTHORIZATION
CARDS/PETITIONS |
| Q.
When I sign an authorization card or Petition will it be submitted
to my employer? |
A.
No! Your employer is forbidden by law from asking if you signed an
authorization card/petition. 'A' cards, as they are referred to in
the Union, are used as proof of majority support. The
cards/petitions are necessary to receive recognition from the
employer of the IAM. If necessary, the cards/petitions will be
submitted to the National Labor Relations Board (also called the
NLRB, or Labor Board) along with a formal petition to request a
secret ballot election. |
| Q.
What is the NLRB/Labor Board? |
A.
The NLRB, or Labor Board, is an agency of the Federal Government
whose responsibility it is to enforce the law giving employees the
right to be represented by the Union. |
| Q.
If I sign an authorization card or Petition, does this mean I have
joined the Union? |
A.
No. Joining the Union is a separate and distinctly different action.
Before joining the IAM, you must complete a membership application |
| Q.
If I sigh an 'A' card/petition, does this obligate me to vote for
the Union in the secret ballot election? |
A.
No. We hope, of course, that all employees vote for the IAM, whether
or not they signed the 'A' card or petition. The Labor Board
election is a secret ballot and you are free to vote as you choose
in the privacy of your secret voting booth.
However, signing an 'A' card/petition
should be a sincere commitment to support the organizing program. |
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ABOUT
YOUR SECRET BALLOT ELECTION |
| Q.
If a majority of employees vote YES in the Labor Board election, do
we automatically become members of the Machinists Union? |
A.
Again, the answer is no. A 'YES' vote in the secret ballot election
by you and a majority of your fellow employees means only that you
win the right to be represented by the Machinists Union, to have a
voice in determining your wages, hours, benefits and working
conditions. As we mentioned before, joining the Union is a separate
and distinct action. |
| Q.
Why do employers fight so hard to defeat employee's efforts to join
the Machinists Union? |
A.
Because they know that the Machinists Union provides a balance of
power between you, the employee, and the employer. They know the
Machinists Union brings skills and training to the bargaining table
that results in contracts with improved wages, sound working
conditions, outstanding pensions and substantial health insurance
benefits. To summarize: he fights so hard because he simply doesn't
want to pay you what you're worth. |
| Q.
Will anyone know how I voted in the election? |
A.
Absolutely not. As we pointed out earlier, the election is conducted
by the Labor Board by secret ballot. No one--neither your employer
nor the Union--will know how you voted. |
| Q.
If me and my fellow employees vote for the Union, what happens if
we're not satisfied later on? |
A.
The same law that gives you the right to vote for union
representation also gives you the right to vote it out if you're not
satisfied. |
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ABOUT
INITIATION FEES AND DUES |
| Q.
Will we have to pay an initiation fee? |
A.
Representatives of newly-organized groups may, and in most instances
do, request the International to waive the customary initiation fee
for all employees employed in the plant, regardless of whether they
supported the Union during the campaign or not. The International,
almost without exception, approves such request. As far as paying
dues during the negotiating process, we usually handle this
situation in accordance with the desires of the newly-organized
members. In some instances, such as for benefit purposes, it's
beneficial to pay dues right away. In other cases, it's not. Your
Union representative will discuss this matter with you and other
members of your newly-organized group to insure that your rights,
and those of your peers are fully protected. |
| Q.
What happens to dues money paid to the Local Union? |
A.
A portion of it pays the salaries of Business Representatives and
office staff. The largest portion pays for rent of office space and
equipment, representation, legal fees, grievance and arbitration
fees, office supplies, printing costs, transportation, strike fund
benefits, etc. The members must, in accordance with our
Constitution, approve every dollar spent. |
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ABOUT
YOUR CONTRACT |
| Q.
After we win the secret ballot election, does my employer have to
negotiate with us? |
A.
Federal Law requires that employers "negotiate in good
faith." And while some employers try to circumvent the law any
way they can, the Machinists Union has a remarkably good record of
successfully helping employees achieve a first contract. |
| Q.
What is a union contract? |
A.
A union contract is a legal document that is binding by law. It is
negotiated with the employer and provides for, among other things,
wages, benefits, hours and general working conditions. |
| Q.
Who draws up our contract? |
A.
You do with assistance from skilled, trained professional Union
negotiators. All employees in the bargaining unit contribute their
ideas for the proposals. Areas where there is usually room for
improvement include, but are not limited to:
> Wages and inflation protection
> Employer-paid health insurance for employees and their families
> Effective grievance procedures
> Job security
> Seniority provisions
> Additional paid holidays
> Paid sick leave
> Improved vacations
> Work rules that spell out your rights on the job. |
| Q.
Is it possible to have our insurance paid completely by the employer
and cover our dependents, too? |
A.
YES! Most union contacts include fully paid insurance for employees
AND dependents. |
| Q.
Is there any limit as to what we can ask for in regard to wages
and/or benefits? |
A.
No. Keep in mind, however, that what you ask for should be
reasonable and justified. |
| Q.
Who will do the negotiating? |
A.
The employer and his designated representative on one side of the
table. On the other, a negotiating committee elected by you,
together with your local union representative(s) and your
International Representative. |
| Q.
Do we have to accept what has been negotiated? |
A.
NO! If you do not feel you have gained enough in negotiations, you
have the right to vote to reject the contract offer. |
| Q.
If we vote to form a union, can the employer cut our wages or reduce
the few benefits we now receive? |
A.
NO! That would violate the Federal Law! Therefore, you will
negotiate UP from current wages and benefits. |
| Q.
If there is no union, what will the policy of the employer be as to
wages, working conditions and fringe benefits? |
A.
Without the union, your are at the mercy of your employer to decide
wages, benefits and working conditions. Jut think how much farther
ahead you would be now if you had a union contract to cover you for
the past year. |
| Q.
What if some union goes on strike elsewhere? What happens to us? |
A.
Nothing. You would continue to work. You would not go out on a
strike in support of another union and you would not be assessed,
either. |
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LEAD SHEET
(LEAD
SHEET SPANISH)
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Comments or Suggestions? E-mail the Communications Officer
of Siouxland Lodge 1426 IAMAW
Greg Enright
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