I am also in a right to work state. Whether you are a union member or not is totally up to the individual, but for him/her to get union pay rates first the union has to be voted in at that company (and more correct, at the office you work out of). You can cast a "yes" vote for the union in the election and afterwards opt to not join the union or pay dues. But remember, you will have more power at the bargaining table if more workers do actually join the union. For instance, if you office has 60 techs, 50 of them vote yes for a union and only 25 of those 50 decide to become card carrying, union members then the ability to negotiate with the employer over salary & benefits are reduced because the number of people the negotiators are representing is less than 50% of the total workforce. So you can see where a higher number of members would tend to give you more bargaining power. This is were the old "there is strength in numbers" thing comes into play. BTW, the actual people who negotiate with your employers are chosen from your own ranks through an election process. They get the list of items to be raised & discussed during the negotiations from the workers themselves. The purpose of the union in all this to ligitimize & legalize the process so the employer can not just discount & push the needs & concerns of the employees to the side.
You have to admit that employers when facing possible unionization always come up with the old "our doors are always open, we are willing to work with you individually as needed" line. They'd love for you to come knocking one at a time, because it is easier for them to shoot down your requests one at a time than it is in a large group. I'm not gonna say a union is the end all answer to every tech's problems with their employer, because it isn't. But if you have the numbers behind you that unionizing can give, then you stand a much better chance when facing wage cuts or major changes in the way you company treats you.
I've said it time & time again, if your being treated well by your employer then you have no need for a union. But if your employer has recently or is considering make drastic changes or cutting wages which would negatively impact your life and livelyhood then you might want to take a close look at some of the unions that are out there who represent other workers in the communications field.
Re: Time to get out of DirecTV
Member #: 41567
Registered: 10/13/2005
Posted:
293
Name:
JD
Occupation:
installer
Location:
north Alabama
There is 1 reply to this message
