608       TABLE TALK        712

2010  Issue #14                                                                         JUNE

Countdown to Contract – 90 days

COLLECTIVE BARGAINING

                Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between an employer and employees over wages, benefits and other conditions of employment. The right for employees to join unions and negotiate a collective bargaining agreement with their employer was established in 1935 with the passage of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

                The bargaining process consists of five basic steps:

1.       Prepare. During this stage negotiating teams are selected and trained and agendas are developed. Your   participation with the surveys helped build our agenda.

2.       Discuss. Both parties discuss and agree to ground rules guiding the negotiations.

3.       Propose. Each side makes opening statements and exchange agendas.

4.       Bargain. This is the “give and take” stage during which an agreement is crafted.

5.       Settlement. At this stage the membership is given the opportunity to vote on a contract proposal. If a simple majority agrees to the proposal, it becomes our official contract. A negative vote by the majority signals that more work is needed at the bargaining table.

                The NLRA does not require either side to agree to a proposal or make concessions, but it does obligate both sides to “bargain in good faith.”

The Use of the Strike Authorization Vote

   Recent concerns from the floor show that some members are concerned about the use of the Strike Authorization vote.

The use of a successful vote empowers our bargaining team with an effective tool for negotiating a fair contract. It is not a vote “for a strike” and it does not necessarily mean a strike will happen immediately or at all.  It tells the employer that the union’s members are unified and support the negotiating team.

It is an unfortunate reality that rarely do workers make substantial gains without the threat of job-action. Often a strike mandate alone is sufficient to get the Employer to take the Union seriously in negotiations but not always. It would be irresponsible for the Executives to recommend strike action until every available option for reaching an agreement has been exhausted. It's main purpose is to show solidarity.

Our Managers are actively seeking to expand or "Grow the business" and are not wanting to jeopardize those plans. To alienate their own employees by begrudging them part of their fair share that is helping to achieve those plans would not seem too logical.

What does the Union do for me?

   The Union has both direct and indirect affects upon you and your family. Directly, the Union is your representative to the Company. They prevent managers from treating you unfairly or abusively and bargain for us when called upon.

Indirectly Unions can also affect wages & benefits in the local area's businesses. They must compete or lose valuable employees. ATK has had to compete with the Union wages we enjoy at Clearwater in order to keep their valued workers happy. 

Area businesses also enjoy a largely recession-proof economy due to our stable jobs and wages. As we benefit, they also benefit.

However, if Clearwater management allows wages & benefits at their sites to slip to the 'Prevailing wage' by eroding us further, they would start losing the workers that have helped them to achieve the World Class quality paper products we are all so proud of.

Where is Your Bargaining Team?

 For the past two weeks your Bargaining team has been working on the agenda for the upcoming contract negotiations. They have taken all the information we have helped to provide with the surveys and have compiled a rough outline that addresses all of our concerns.

Your concerns are important to us and we strive to meet those concerns.

The Committee does plan to be available and on the floor in the upcoming weeks ready to meet with members and take input.

The Table Talk will be archived at www.usw-608.com. If you have any ideas for future issues, please feel free to send them to our e-mail address: catoffice@cableone.net If you would like the Table Talk sent to your home computer, email the CAT office with your home email address.