Other worker's comments

Say
"Union Yes"

nbsp;

Home

Union Organizing Center

What other workers say about a Union

Here's what several workers -- now members of a Union -- have to say about their Union experience:

Robby Clarke currently works in a Union-organized plant in North Carolina. Previously Robby worked in 2 different nonunion plants.

"I have worked at two separate companies that were both nonunion. In both nonunion plants, I had to pay for my family's insurance coverage if I wanted them covered under the company insurance plan. I also had no Pension Plan at either company.

I now work for a plant that was organized by my International Union. I have seen a big difference. I don’t pay for my insurance as the Union negotiated fully-paid insurance into our Union contract. This has helped my family tremendously as my daughter has chronic asthma and is in need of regular medical treatment as well as several inhalers each month. My Union negotiated insurance has saved my family a lot of money each month.

I now have a pension plan where I work. The International Representative told us that the Union firmly believes in getting a defined benefit pension plan for its members. Now when I retire I will have a retirement check from my employer each month.

I am glad the Union organized my workplace as they care about their members."

Karen Evans works at a plant in Ohio that was organized by a Union. Before becoming a union member, Karen worked at a nonunion workplace that fired her for being off work with a serious workplace injury.

"I have been a member of the Union for seven months. I used to work at a factory that was very dangerous to work in as many of the machines were unsafe. I was injured at work as a machine I was working on had no safety guard to protect me. My injuries required surgery and I was off work several months. When I was ready to return to work, my employer told me they no longer needed me as I was a burden to the workforce. I had no union to protect me and I lost my job.

I now work at a Union workplace here in Ohio that is covered by the Union. We have a safety committee made up of workers and management that inspect the workplace each month for safety problems. If any are found the employer must fix them in 3 days or they will be in violation of our union contract.

I wish I had the Union representing me when I was injured at my previous workplace. Working in a unionized setting is less stressful as I know my employer can’t fire me without just cause. My Union contract gives me that assurance."

Chester Young works at a plastics plant in California. He is a member of a Union. Before working at the plastics plant, Chester worked at a poultry plant that was nonunion and if anyone talked about a union we were fired.

"The nonunion plant had work rules that would not allow us to be off work unless we were hospitalized for 2 days or more. If we were then we would be fired. My sister worked there and she had a wreck on the way to work and she was fired because she missed work that day.

We had no union to help us and we were told by an attorney that since we had no union, the company could fire my sister for most anything.

I now work at a union factory that is covered by a contract with our International Union. Our work rules are negotiated with the union and one great thing about the Union is the workers are helping to form our rules as part of our union contract."

Roderick Dunn works at a company that was organized recently by a Union. Roderick has worked at this company for 13 years. He has been there in a non-union environment and is now working at the same place under a union contract recently negotiated by the Union.

"I have worked here in Virginia for 13 years. We never had a union until recently. I was scared when the union organizers came to talk to me. I didn’t know very much about a union until the explained what a union was all about.

Before the union, the company would only give raises to certain people that they liked. Being a minority I was often by-passed on raises while other workers doing the same job I was received their raises.

The company used to post job bids but if certain workers signed the jobs they were denied in favor of relatives of the supervisors, even if someone else had more seniority.

I had heard from other employees that a union would make you pay union dues. That is true but I also found out what the union dues are for. My union dues are used for: representatives of the Union who come to my workplace and to union meetings to see what problems we are having, and they work those problems out with the company. They are also used to handle grievances my fellow workers have and to negotiate contracts so we can all be treated equal and fair.

Since the Union organized our factory, I now get the same raise that all the other employees get. Since we became unionized, I can bid on better jobs and get the job because my union contract says the company must go by seniority.

Since I became a member of the Union, the favoritism disappeared, and I am treated with respect by my boss because I am a union member now.

Joining the Union was the best move I have ever made and I am now at peace at work as I now am treated fairly by my employers."