Sometimes a company, or the law firms they hire, will say or do many things to convince workers to fear unionization. Here are some tactics the company will use to get workers to vote NO.
• "Give us a second chance."
There shouldn’t be a need for a second chance, the company should of been showing workers respect right from the start. After the workers decide not to unionize, the company always goes back to its disrespecting ways.
• "The company is closing."
This is an illegal strategy used by some employers to strike fear into their employees. Companies don’t want to lose control over their workers by giving them a voice to improve working conditions. This classifies as an unfair labor practice (ULP) under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).
• "Don’t sign that authorization card, if you do sign it you’re in the union."
Truth is, companies do say this. Signing the authorization card does not mean that a worker is in the union. The authorization card simply states that a worker wants to exercise his or her legal right to form a union. The worker is in the union, however, once the first contract is finalized. Don’t believe us click this link to the NLRB site.
• "The Union is a 3rd party."
False: The union is the members and the members are the union.
• "You’ll never get a contract."
Companies say this from time to time, which is an illegal tactic. By law (NLRA) they must bargain in good faith.
• "Hey, look I got you some (lunches, days off, pay raises, etc.) please forgive us…"
Companies will try to "wine and dine you" or provide gifts and incentives in an effort to stop the organizing drive. The shady companies count on the theory that, "everyone likes a free meal." But what happens after it's gone? Was the meal a contract to secure your future working conditions?
• "You will be spending fortunes in dues."
Since when does the company care about how a worker spends his or her hard earned money? Workers do not pay dues until negotiations are over and a first contract is signed. Dues are set by the Local's constitution. A worker can attend local organizing meetings to find out how the dues structure works.
• "During negotiations you’ll start from zero."
False: A worker starts from where he or she is presently and goes from there.
• "The union will make you strike!"
This is false, the only people that can agree to strike are members of the collective bargaining agreement. Which is the employee.
These are some management tactics that some companies will use so the employees will relinquish power back to them.