(Download)

What You Need to Know About Your

New Job and

New Union Family

 

[photo of happy, united members; not a serious strike scene nor shot with picket signs]

 

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[inside cover]

 

Welcome from Your Co-workers in Local XXX

 

One of the best things about your new job is that you will now be part of a new union family of [type of workers] who belong to Local XXX.

 

• Your guaranteed pay increases, health coverage, paid time off, and other benefits are the result of the union contract that the members of Local XXX have negotiated with management.

 

• If problems or questions come up on the job, you have someone to turn to -- your union worksite leader, a co-worker who is trained to help you get the answers and support you need.

 

• As a union member, you can join with other working people to make elected public officials and big corporations listen to the needs of our families and our communities.

 

• You will be part of a democratic organization where the members elect our leaders and decide our union’s policies

 

Over the years, members have found that we can accomplish much more for our patients, our families, and ourselves when we unite for common goals.

 

This booklet provides an introduction to our union, and tells how you can get involved.

 

Your worksite leader can answer other questions you may have.

 

Improving Our Jobs and the Services We Provide

 

By joining together, union members can negotiate with management to improve our jobs, make sure we are all treated fairly, and get the resources we need to provide a service we can be proud of.

 

GUARANTEED PAY AND BENEFITS

 

As a member, you are covered by a union contract with your employer.

 

The contract spells out your rights and benefits, including…

 

• Pay levels and pay raises.
• Health coverage.
• Job security.
• Promotions.
• Paid time off for vacations and holidays.
• Retirement benefits.
• Rules about how you must be treated on the job.

 

Your contract was negotiated with management by your co-workers and Local XXX leaders. Every member has a right to make suggestions about what should be in the contract—and to vote on the final agreement.

 

To win a good contract, employees have to show management that we are united in support of our negotiating team.  Sometimes, we have to get support from other unions, community groups, public officials, consumers, or other organizations to convince management to reach a reasonable agreement.

 

The rights and benefits in the contract are guaranteed.  Management cannot legally change them without negotiations with our union.

 

SOMEONE TO TURN TO IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM

 

Everybody wants to have smooth working relationships on the job.  But problems sometimes come up in every workplace.

 

Our contract includes a procedure to protect you from being treated unfairly or fired without good reason.  It also protects you from discrimination or favoritism in the way work assignments, promotions, layoffs, or other issues are handled.

 

A complaint that the contract has been violated is called a “grievance.”

 

If you have questions or problems at work or think management may have violated your rights, tell your worksite leader.

The worksite leader and other local union leaders can answer your questions and help you figure out the best way to solve the problem.

 

Sometimes that involves discussions with management.

 

Sometimes it requires getting the support of others employees for a fair solution.

 

[insert photo of worker consulting with their worksite leader]

 

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

 

• Read your contract. Ask your worksite leader to explain parts that seem unclear.
• Insist on being treated fairly. Let your worksite leader and other co-workers know if you think management is discriminating against you or violating your rights.

If a manager asks you questions that might lead to discipline, you have a legal right to have your union worksite leader present during the questioning.

• Support your co-workers. If someone else isn’t being treated fairly, back them up.
• Back up your union leaders when they ask for your support.
• Support campaigns to win better contracts. Give your union leaders your ideas for what to negotiate in your contract.  Join in activities to show management that you support your union.  Help reach out to community groups if their support is needed.

 

 

Uniting for Our Families and Our Communities

 

As a union member, you have the opportunity to unite with other working people for laws and public policies that will benefit us and not just corporate special interests.

 

Through our union, members work together to hold public officials of all political parties accountable to working families on such issues as…

 

• [insert priority issues for your union]
• Access to secure, affordable health care for all.
• Security for working families through Social Security, Medicare, unemployment compensation, and other essential protections we have earned.
• Public services we can count on, so that public funds are used to promote good jobs, education, and other basic priorities.
• Fair tax policies that ensure that corporations and the rich pay their share.
• Basic freedoms for working people, including the freedom to unite in a union without employer interference, to have a safe and healthful place to work, and to be protected from discrimination of any kind.

 

 

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

 

• Join other members, neighbors, and friends to make our voice heard. That may include taking part in rallies, petition campaigns, or visits to public officials.
• Register and vote. Your worksite leader can tell you how to register. Encourage your family and friends to register and vote as well.
• Take an active part in elections. During elections, members staff phone banks, canvass neighborhoods, and distribute campaign material to promote issues important to working people.
• Invest in your future. By contributing at least $? per ? to COPE, our union political action fund, Local XXX members help give working people a voice in politics.  Ask your worksite leader how to sign up.

[insert photo of worksite voter registration]

 

HELPING OTHER EMPLOYEES WHO

DO THE SAME KIND OF WORK TO UNITE WITH US

 

A major goal for union members is to help other employees who do the same kind of work to unite with us by joining our union.

 

While we have accomplished a lot over the years, we could win much more if all [type of workers] were working together in the same organization.

 

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

 

• Offer to help talk to workers who don't have a union yet about the benefits of being a union member.
• Support union campaigns to convince employers not to interfere with employees who choose to join us.

 

[insert photo of a member talking to a nonunion worker about the union]

 

Members Decide What to Work Toward

 

Local XXX belongs to the members.  The more active the members, the more effective the union.

 

Members have the right to...

 

• Elect the officers of our local union.
• Attend local union meetings where the members set policy for our officers to carry out.
• Vote on contracts that our representatives negotiate.

 

Local XXX is part of a national union, [name],that includes [number] workers.

 

As part of an national union, we are able to pool our resources and coordinate strategy with other [type of worker] for everyone's benefit.

 

Dues Give Us the Resources to Win

 

Dues paid by Local XXX members make possible the programs and activities described in this booklet.

 

Our elected union leaders prepare an annual report for the members that tells what we all are doing to make gains for working people and how are dues money is being spent.

 

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED

 

• Stay informed. Ask your worksite leader and local leaders for information on union activities.  Read local union publications.
• Participate in union activities. Take an active part in union meetings. Vote in union elections.  Become familiar with your union bylaws.
• Volunteer your time. To be successful, members must not only give ideas and make proposals but also get involved to carry them out.

 

[insert photo of member speaking from the floor at a local union meeting]

 

 

OUR LOCAL UNION:

WHO TO CONTACT