Strikes

If a union wins an election, the only thing it wins is the right to negotiate. Unions use the threat of strikes during negotiations to put pressure on the company to meet their demands. But in reality, strikes put more stress on employees – it is their livelihood on the line.

A strike typically happens when the parties cannot reach an agreement on a contract.  When a union calls a strike, there are serious consequences for the workers. Regular pay stops. Benefits can stop, too, since they are often tied to your work status. Union dues, however, often don’t stop and members are still obligated to pay them.

Striking workers are normally not eligible for unemployment compensation. Sometimes a union will say it has a “strike fund” to take care of striking workers. But these rarely equal normal wages, and typically don’t have enough funds to support a long strike.

“The company has a right to stay in business during a strike. “

That means it can hire replacement workers for anyone who goes on strike.  Replacement workers can become permanent in some cases, even when the strike is over. There is no guarantee that striking workers would get their jobs back.

Even if the union calls a strike, there is still no guarantee that the company has to agree to its demands. There actually is no law that says there even has to be a first contract.

You have to decide if you know the union leaders and trust them, especially when it comes to making important decisions like calling a strike. Ask yourself:

• Are the union promises realistic or extreme?
• Is the union pressuring you in any way?
• Can the union deliver on its promises?
• Does the union care more about you or about protecting its own jobs and dues?
• Is it better to have a union talk for you or to take your questions and issues directly to your leader?