WHAT UNIONS SAY ABOUT CARDS

The law DOES NOT say unions have to tell workers the truth about cards.

 

Because getting signatures is so important to them, unions and their representatives sometimes say things that aren't true.

 

Here's an example:

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.

What else do unions say about cards?

“The card is just to get more information.” 

“If you don't sign, we'll make management fire you once we get in."

"This is just a sign-in sheet to get into our meeting."

"Everybody else has signed; you better sign, too"

"The card just means there will be a vote. You can always vote no if you don't want the union, but you should at least let everybody have a vote."

"If you sign I'll go away and stop pestering you."

What's the truth about cards?

The card doesn't say "I want information." It says you want the union to represent you.

This is an illegal threat and NOT TRUE – unions CANNOT force management to fire workers for refusing to sign a card.

Sometimes unions disguise authorization petitions to look like something else, sign as a meeting sign-in sheet. Be careful what you sign!

Who knows how many people have REALLY signed? And maybe they signed because they were also told "everybody else has signed."

Signing a card can bring in a union - and eventually force you to pay union dues - without a vote.

Signing a card means the union will stay, not go away. If you want the union to go away and stop pestering you, don't sign a card, say "go away." 

Do workers ever become unionized because they were tricked into signing a card?

 

Of course. Here's just one example (to read the whole story, click here):   

THE BOTTOM LINE:


4 facts you should know - 

 

  1. It doesn't matter what anyone tells you. 

 

  2. Union cards mean what they say. 

 

  3. If you sign a card, it means you want the union to represent you. 

 

  4. Signed cards can cause you to become unionized without a vote. 



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