You Only Pay Dues After You See the Results

• No one pays any dues until after the first contract negotiated, voted on, and approved by you, the represented employees.
• No one would approve a contract that didn’t make improvements and more than pay for your dues.
• There is no initiation fee for current employees

A Union is YOUR Employee Organization

• A union is a non-profit employee organization that runs completely by and for its members.
• It’s an organization built and used to speak up as a unified voice for improvements that benefit all.
• Without a union, management has total say over your pay, benefits, hours, shifts, and working conditions.
• With a union, you will have more power to make positive changes in your jobs and protect and advance your interests.

We Protect What You Currently Have and Make Improvements from There

• Once you vote to become a represented workforce, your current benefits and employment conditions get protected in place until you negotiate and approve any changes and improvements.
• What issues get brought to the bargaining table will be up to you, the represented employees
• Management must provide necessary information for us to be able to negotiate over the terms of employment. This is your opportunity to negotiate with the employer, and if everyone sticks together, you can win. There is no guarantee you will win on everything, but you are guaranteed a place at the table.

It’s Your Legal Right to Support Having a Union

• It would be illegal for your employer to question you about your union activity or to fire, demote, discipline, or in any way interfere with your right to form a union.
• The National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act are federal laws that protect employees with these rights. 

You’ll Come Out Ahead with a Union

• Currently, your working conditions, pay, benefits, hours, policies all get decided by management. It’s very one-sided. Creating a union changes this lopsided relationship.
• A union gives you a more level playing field where you can negotiate over improvements and get those improvements guaranteed in a legally binding contract. You’ll decide through surveys and meetings which issues are most important to address in bargaining.

You Can Talk about the Union at Work

• If you’re allowed to talk about other non-work topics, like what you watched on TV last night, then you can talk about the union. 
• Most often, it’s best to keep union activity such as handing out flyers or petitions to “off the clock” time like breaks, mealtime, and before or after work.

Strikes are Rare and It’s Your Decision

• Strikes are rare and only used as a last resort.
• There are many other effective ways to put pressure on our employer to win a fair contract.
• No strike could ever happen unless an overwhelming majority of employees in your bargaining unit voted to do so.
• OPEIU union staff or officers or members of other unions can’t “call for a strike”.

You Can Be Loyal Employees and Still Support Having a Union

• We want to make sure your workplace is the best possible place to work for yourselves, your customers, and your community. Having a union will help.
• Supporting a union can positively impact morale, turnover, and the support you provide to your customers. Supporting a union does not mean you’re against your employer.