NO GUARANTEES

The most important thing to know about union contract bargaining is this:


There are no guarantees -- bargaining doesn't always mean better pay or benefits

United Steelworkers Union

  • Former President of United Steelworkers Local 4-318 (Edison, N.J.) guilty of embezzling $93,965.00.
  • Former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 561 (Lancaster, Ohio) guilty of embezzling $24,833.00.
  • Former Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 15485 (Springfield, Mo.) guilty of stealing $12,284.00 in union funds.
  • Former President of United Steelworkers Local 2-47 (Green Bay, Wis.) guilty of theft of “an amount between $2,500 and $5,000.00.”
  • Former Treasurer for United Steelworkers Local 12-1097 (Westport, Ore.) guilty of embezzling $19,911.00.
  • Former President of United Steelworkers Local 378 (Aynor, S.C.) guilty of embezzling $9,345.00.
  • Former Financial Secretary-Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 208 (Irving, Tex.) guilty of embezzling $54,416.00 of union funds.
  • Former Financial Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 458 (Plant City, Fla.) guilty of embezzling $43,941.00 in union funds.
  • Former Treasurer of United Steelworkers Local 9-458 (Plant City, Fla.) guilty of embezzling $65,895.00.
  • Former Financial-Secretary of United Steelworkers Local 480 (Pottsville, Pa.) guilty of embezzling $2,626.00.

International Brotherhood of

Electrical Workers

  • Former Secretary-Treasurer of IBEW Local 2359 (Sugar Grove, Ohio) guilty of embezzling $158,150.00.
  • Former business manager for IBEW Local 898 (San Angelo, Tex.) guilty of embezzling $11,164.00.
  • Former business manager for IBEW Local 545 (St. Joseph, Mo.) guilty of embezzling $23,768.00.
  • Former dues clerk for IBEW Local 58 (Detroit, Mich.) guilty of embezzling $101,059.00. 
  • Former President of IBEW Local 249 (Geneva, N.Y.) guilty of embezzling $39,049.00.

International Association of Machinists

  • Former Business Representative of International Association of Machinists District Lodge 65 (St. Cloud, Minn.) guilty of stealing $5,919.00. 
  • Former Secretary-Treasurer of International Association of Machinists Lodge 2458 (Minooka, Ill.) guilty of embezzling $62,263.00.

Here's what the law says:

"The United States Government and the N.L.R.B. do not guarantee workers that the collective bargaining process starts from where you presently are in wages, insurance, pensions . . . and all other conditions of employment . . . nor did the government guarantee that you will lose no benefits . . ." (Automation and Measurement Div., Bendix Corp., 69 LRRM 2157)

 

“Collective Bargaining is potentially hazardous for employees and as a result of such negotiations, employees could wind up with less benefits after unionization than before.” (Coach & Equipment Sales Corp., 228 NLRB No. 51)

Here's what the Machinists' Union web site says:

THE BOTTOM LINE:


When unions say you can't lose in contract bargaining, they're not telling the truth. 

 

Sometimes contracts increase pay or benefits, and sometimes contracts take pay or benefits away. 

 

Nothing is guaranteed!

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