POSSIBLE ANSWERS TO FREQUENtL Y VOICED
OBJECTIVES TO JOINING THE UNION
(For use in internal organizil1g)
OBJECTION:
IlWhy should I join the union when I get exactly the same
wages and benefits without joining? II
possmLE ANSWERS:
1.
"There never was a truer statement. We both receive
less than we are entitled because you and some others are
not members. "
2.
"Right, you get all of what the rest of us get. But we
could get so much more if we didn't have non-members.
Aren't you interested in further gains? (Pause) Well,
these can only be won if enough of us want them and are
willing to work to get them.
3.
"If every worker felt as you do, we would have no union
at -alI to -bargain for us or to represent us in grievances.
"The longer you remain a non-member the more difficult
it is for the union to improve your wages and working
conditions. "
4.
"Here is a card. Won't you sign it so that you too can
help to make possible what we are all entitled to?"
5.
"If everyone belonged, the benefits would be greater and
the cost would be spread among more people."
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6.
"As a non-member, you are automatically on the side of
the employer as they face the union at the bargaining
table and agreeing with them that the demands made by
the union are not proper, that you are not entitled to any
improvements in wages or working conditions. I'm sure
you want to join with us to help make improvements
possible rather than be counted as one who is against
better wages and working conditions. "
7.
"The employer's first offer is what we wduld get without
a union. Compare that with what we finally win. In that
way you can measure in dollars and costs the value of a
union to you. "
8.
"By not being a member you miss the sense of belonging,
the joy of friendship and the feeling of being fully
accepted by your fellow workers. "
9.
"Whether or not you need the union, the union needs
you. Your participation will make the umon more
effective. "
10.
"Right and I'm sure you want to do your share and not
have the rest of the workers pay your way. "
11.
"Each person has an obligation to share equally the cost··
of supporting the organization which wins the benefits.
It's just downright unfair to accept benefits others are
paying for. "
12.
"Do you think that it is right for anyone to accept and not
pay his just share of the cost of securing these benefits?
Suppose your next door neighbor paid no taxes on his
house and yet he sent his children to public schools and
used the roads and other public services. Would this be
fair? Of course it wouldn't. Nor is it fair for a person to
realize all the benefits of unionism and not pay his share
of the cost of gaining these benefits. "
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13.
"Non-members have no vote on whether or not to strike,
they have no voice in contract ratification, nor in election
of representatives. "
OBJECTION: "I can't afford to join. I've got a; family to support and my
check just isn't big enough."
PossmLE ANSWERS:
1.
"You can't afford to not belong. It doesn't cost to belong
to the union. It pays in the form of job security, better
wages, and improved benefits. "
2.
"Everything of value has a price. What you should do is
to compare the value of a thing with the price you have to
pay for it. If we do this with union dues, I'm sure you
will agree that union dues are a sound investment. "
3.
"If you break down union dues you will see that it costs
just slightly more than- a cup of coffee a day to belong to
the union."
4.
"Did you ever stop to think how much less money you'd
be making if it were not for the union? I'm sure that
neither you nor I could afford to work for the employer
at what we make without a union. If it were not for the
union, our wages would be far less than they are and we
would receive no fringe benefits. You owe it to yourself
as well as to us to set aside a small portion of your higher
rates to help raise wages even higher in the years to
come."
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13.
"Non-members have no vote on whether or not to strike,
they have no voice in contract ratification, nor in election
of representatives."
OBJECTION: "I can't afford to join. I've got a family to support and my
check just isn't big enough."
possmLE ANSWERS:
1.
"You can't afford to not belong. It doesn't cost to belong
to the union. It pays in the form of job security, better
wages, and improved benefits."
2.
"Everything of value has a price. What you should do is
to compare the value of a thing with the price you have to
pay for it. If we do this with union dues, I'm sure you
will agree that union dues are a sound investment. "
3.
"If you break down union dues you will see that it costs
just slightly more- than a cup of coffee a day to belong to
the union."
4.
"Did you ever stop to think how much less money you'd
be making if it were not for the union? I'm sure that
neither you nor I could afford to work for the employer
at what we make without a union. If it were not for the
union, our wages would be far less than they are and we
would receive no fringe benefits. You owe it to yourself
as well as to us to set aside a small portion of your higher
rates to help raise wages even higher in the years to
come."
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5.
"You say you have a financial problem and certainly
you're not alone in this. We all have a financial problem
and that is exactly why we need a stronger union - in
order to get substantial wage increases, and improved
fringe benefits every year from now on." .
6.
"You need your job badly. So do I. We are the very
ones who have the greatest need for the security the
union gives us. "
7.
"You say you have a family to support. You owe it to
your family, above all, to be a member of a union that
insures job security, wage increases, and fringe benefits.
Your family benefits directly from all of these."
SUGGESTIONS:
If the non-member makes a specific reference to an
inability to pay bills, mention the counseling service of
the union (if this is available) and how union members
with financial problems are afforded help.
If the non-member pleads debt problems,- mention the
availability of the credit union, if you have one, and how
the union member can borrow money at lower interest
rates than is obtainable from a bank or finance company.
If the local has a wholesale buying plan, mention this as
an added reason for the non-member to join. He can
make his wages go further in this way.
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OBJECTION: "I don't believe in unions. They are too strong and powerful
now to suit me."
PossmLE ANSWERS:
1.
"Unions are just associations of people lj'anned together
for their mutual protection and benefit.
Everyone,
farmers, merchants, bankers, utility companies, everyone
joins together today to increase their effectiveness. Why
not labor?"
2.
"By saying unions are too powerful, you are really saying
you are being paid too much or that your working
conditions are too good."
3.
"The newspapers do their best to make unions look bad
and this is understandable since employers spend a lot of
money on ads. But prove things for yourself, join us,
come to our meetings and then decide whether unions are
good or bad. "
4.
"You talk about power but let us just look at the facts.
The net assets of AT&T alone are about twenty times as
much as the entire union movement combined. We are
not nearly powerful enough to get all that is coming to
us. That is why we need your help, to create a stronger
and more effective union movement.
SUGGESTIONS:
Point out what unions have done historically. Describe
how things were in American industry before unions.
Workers were fired at the whim of management or
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arbitrarily at the age of 40. Describe the extremely low
wages, long hours, no fringe benefits, no unemployment
compensation, no social security, no workmen's
compensation. Stress not only the contract gains (here
you might want to compare wages in 1940 with wages in
1971) but also the efforts of labor in enacting better laws
and creating better communities.
Try to find out the specific reason behind this objection
and try to correct the false impression the employee has.
OBJECTION: "I don't need a union; the employer is fair. The employer will
take care of us without a union. I get along fine. What has the union got for
us that we wouldn't have gotten anyway?"
1.
"We are glad to hear that you are getting along on your
job and that you have no problems with your supervisor. "
2.
"You're very right, this is a good place to work, now,
and the union played a big part in making this so. But, of
course, this is no reason why-we shouldn'ctry to makeit
an even better place to work.' Your job has been made
more pleasant and se<;;ure because of the union
representation afforded you on the job. Your supervisor
has to treat you fairly since the contract requires that he
do so. The employer is fair because the union is always
looking over its shoulder.
Even so, almost every
employee at one time or another has a grievance or
complaint. "That's where the union comes in."
3.
"The employer will treat you well as long as this is the
profitable thing for them to do. But you are like the rest
of us. We are merely numbers on a page. There's no
room for sentiment or humanity in AT&T or any other
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giant finn today. You need protection from this great
impersonal machine. "
4.
"You never know when you might need· the help of the
union. The union has been able to get' a clause in the
contract that assures employees fair treatinent if the need
should ever arise. If many people felt the way you feel,
there would be no union and no protection for anyone.
Think of the contract as an insurance policy. We hope
that you never need the union to prdtect you from
arbitrary or unfair treatment by the employer, but if you
ever do need protection we re here to make sure that you
receive fair treatment. "
I
5.
The individual can't possibly adequately represent
himself. He s much too vulnerable and very frequently
he doesn't know his rights under the law and under the
contract. In today s complex world, organizations of all
sorts are necessary to achieve iInportant objectives. This
is the reason for the laws which protect the union and the
union employees from arbitrary treatment in order to get
better wages or longer vacations, more adequate pensions
and so on."
I
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SUGGESTIONS:
Rely on history and point out the job security clause in
the contract including the final step of arbitration.
Explain about conditions of work, including low wages
and poor working conditions before the union. You
might want to call in an older worker to give a first hand
report. Discuss the history of bargaining in tenns of
employer versus final settlement and show the difference
in terms of cents per hour pr dollars per year. Point out
that the employer often admits that the union forces it to
grant more than it would like to grant. You might want
to use a prepared sheet showing the union gains over the
20
years. Also point out, specifically, grievances the union
has won (use cases that you personally are familiar with).
Point out that very frequently there arise personality
clashes between employees and supervisors. Ask: What
would you do if this should happen to you? What would
you be able to do to help yourself if the state fired or
demoted or otherwise mistreated you?
OBJECTION:
unions). "
"My husband would divorce me (or my father doesn't like
POSSffiLE ANSWERS:
1.
"Your husband (father, etc.) lets you work and accepts
your contributions to the household. He should let you
do your part to make your job more pleasant and better
paying. You are the one who is working on the job, you
put up with the working conditions, you get the paycheck
you know better than anyone else whether a union is
good fof yol.i:Tiii-slfre yolifhlisbano rriearts-weU~but his
advice is probably based on a misunderstanding. Let me
visit your home and discuss the matter with you this very
evening. "
SUGGESTION:
Find out reasons for objection of husband or parent.
Offer to sit down and talk things over with the relatives.
Offer to go home that very evening with the non-member
to discuss the matter with the relative (many say this
technique
has
never
failed) .
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OBJECTION: "The union does not do anything for you (grievances are not
settled satisfactorily). I don't like the people who are running things in the
union. "
POSSffiLE ANSWERS:
1.
"Each officers and steward does his job the best way he
knows how. If you, or someone you know, has not been
treated fairly, tell us about it so that it can be remedied.
We admit we make mistakes, but we are doing the best
we can to improve and we need your help."
2.
"Your local officers and stewards work for the employer
just as much as you and 1. They need lots of training,
experiences, and help from you to do the job well. Your
signature on this card will give the right and opportunity
to help in running this union better.
3.
"Working conditions will get worse unless the union is
strong enough to resist the nation-wide trend to recapture
management prerogatives through collective bargaining
and legislation. "
4.
"Hundreds of grievances are settled satisfactorily. But
with 100 % membership, we can do an even better job of
investigating and processing grievances.
SUGGESTIONS:
Insist upon specifics, the specific grievance in mind.
Check out the problem, obtain the facts and report back
to the non-member.
Concede the union can make
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mistakes but point out the many grievances which have
been won.
Point out that the members have an obligation to replace
those officers and stewards who continue' to do their job
poorly.
Enumerate the contract benefits; choice of hours,
vacations, sick benefits. Remind the non-member that
these didn't come automatically.
J
Discuss the need to use the grievance procedure properly.
Frequently, some of the complaints we have in
grievances occur because the proper procedures are not
followed.
Show the non-member a copy of the contract. Point out
the sections of the contract which ensure better wages
and working conditions.
OBJECTION: "I can handle my own affairs. I can take care of myself. I'll
make my owrCaeciSiOlis.----r-d<f-riof iIilena-to-stay on this-job forever; -I'm
looking for a promotion."
possmLE ANSWERS:
1.
"This is probably true, but the chances that you might
need help somewhere along the way are certain.
Besides, all your fellow employees aren't as fortunate.
They need help. "
2.
"You are working in a large industry and necessarily are
a cog in a very large machine. Unless you fit into this
machine, you are not a desirable employee so your future
depends in large part on your ability to get along with
everyone, including your fellow workers."
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3.
"The vast majority of management personnel are ex-officers, former
stewards, and members who were recognized by management as
leaders through their union activities. "
OBJECTION: "My religion doesn't permit me to belong to any outside
organizations."
POSSIBLE ANSWERS:
1.
I've never heard of a faith that bars membership in a
union. I would like to discuss this matter with you and
with your pastor so that we can clear up any
misunderstandings. Unions have always worked closely
with all churches. Our goals are similar-to help our
brothers and sisters.
II
2.
Follow through on this. Contact the pastor or minister.
Verify the church's policy and report back to the non­
member.
3.
"Your religion and all other religions teach you to love your neighbor,
to be responsible for your brother's and sister's welfare. And that is what the
union is designed to do. There is no conflict between the goals of unions and
reli'gions.
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OBJECTION: "My boss doesn't believe in unions."
POSSffiLE ANSWERS:
1.
"At one time, the supervisor was a virtual
dictator with power to hire or fire you on the
spot. Now he or she must live tip to the
contract and treat people with respect. If he
or she can't do this, the union will demand
that management get rid of that supervisor.
2.
"The law, the contract, and the public policy
guarantee you the right to join and engage in
union activity.
3.
Give the non-member the pamphlet -- Your
Legal Right to Join a Union."
4.
Point out supervisors who were fonnerly
active members of the union.
OBJECTION:
corrupt. "
"I don't want anything to do with unions.
They are all
POSSffiLE ANSWERS/SUGGESTIONS:
1.
Show him a copy of the local's constitution and point out
how the constitution assures democratic procedures and
membership control of the union.
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2.
Explain that the local is a member of AFSCME, AFL­
CIO and that the Teamsters and other corrupt unions
were expelled from the AFL-CIO.
3.
Point out that membership in the union gives you a right
to choose your own officers and to correct any abuses
that you believe exist.
OBJECTION: "I don't know enough about the local or the union movement."
POSSIBLE ANSWERS
1.
"You can't afford not to be interested in the union. What
happens in the union and between the union and the
enlployer affects you; it affects all employees. Contract
negotiations, grievances, etc., concern everyone in one
way or another. "
2.
"Your work on this job is a good part of your day, a
good part of your life. What happens on the job is of
intense interest to you."
SUGGESTION:
It might be necessary to go into a general explanation of the reasons
people join unions.
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