Understanding Union Opposition
Sources of Anti-union Sentiment & Effort
Bosses
Bosses want to regain or retain all of the power to determine wages, hours, and working conditions and they are bold and relentless in their tactics.
Individuals
Individual perception, including lived experiences and political/social beliefs impact how people feel about Unions–broadly and for themselves.
Organizations
National organizations are stepping up their anti-Union game by using tactics that look a lot like ours.
Slide 2
Individuals
People with ideological opposition to Unions
People who feel they (or people they care about) have been harmed by unions
What do they want?
Power
How do they Exercise it?
- Withdraw from membership
- Oppose organizing efforts
- Persuade family/friends
- Post on social media
- Join opposition groups
- Circulate decert petition
Slide 3
Who are they?
Bosses
Slide 4
Who are they?
Bosses with ideological opposition to Unions
Bosses who want to be able to determine (alone) how and when employees work and for how much.
Power
In any workplace, someone controls the ways people work and how they are compensated for that work. Bosses want to have all the power to make those decisions-even in a good work environment, it's easier just to be able to tell people what to do. Without a union, bosses do what they want, when they want. With a union, workers negotiate terms.
How do they Exercise it?
Outside the Workplace
In the Workplace
- Sowing discontent between employees
- Going after, firing, or promoting Union leaders
- Gaslighting
- Captive Audience Meetings
- Comparisons to work as family
- Email/ Mail Campaigns
- Sharing employee information with outside organizations
What do they want?
Organizations
Slide 5
Who are they?
Organizations that fundamentally opposed Unions and that is their main prerogative
Organizations that generally stand for free-market policies ("let the market do its job")
Power
Anti-Union organizations broadly tend to support employers above workers. They may believe Unions are inefficient, expensive, or impediments to the free market (which would allow "the market" to "determine" wages and working conditions.
How do they Exercise it?
Outreach to Union-members and non-Union workers
- Mail
- Social Media
- Door-Knocking/ House Visits
- Phone-Calling
- Texting
- News Media
- Advertisements
- Advice
- Legal Support
What do they want?
What organizations are going after Unions and how do they operate?
What Organizations?
Americans for Fair Treatment
Anti-Union organization that uses rights framework to encourage Union members to opt-out and to de-certify their Unions.
Center for the American Experiment
National Right to Work Foundation
Organization, based in Minnesota, that promotes free enterprise, limited government, personal responsibility and government accountability
Pro "right to work" organization-opposes any compulsory Union participation. Focuses on legal opposition-looks for legal ways to challenge Union rights.
Americans for Prosperity
Freedom Foundation
Slide 6
Anti-Union organization for the purpose of shrinking government. Encourages workers and gives them tools to opt out of their Unions.
Generally promotes a free-market agenda.
What Do our opponents say about Us?
Rights Framework/ American Values
1st Amendment
Freedom
Fairness
Free Market
Choice
Slide 7
Union problems
Not Accountable
Damage Industry
Lie
Spend Wastefully
Force bad Choices
Out of Touch
Irrelevant
Protect Laziness/ Incompetence
Get in the way
Expensive
Featherbed
Rights Framework/ American Values
"No one should have to support an organization they don't agree with."
"Everyone should be able to choose how to spend their money."
"The market works better without interference."
Slide 8
"If you work hard, you can realize the American dream ."
What do Anti-Union talking points sound like?
Union problems
"Unions are corrupt."
"Unions just want to make money."
"Unions lie to workers about the benefits."
"Unions demand too much- businesses can't sustain it."
"Unions bosses get paid too much."
"Unions are out of touch."
"Unions used to be necessary, but we've solved those problems."
"Unions prevent progress and protect bad workers."
"I don't get enough from my membership for what I pay"
How to Talk to your co-workers about anti-Union Rhetoric
1) Take a breath. Don't get defensive or flustered. Your co-worker is speaking their truth and they are asking to engage. You've got this!
2) Respond from a place of curiosity–ask questions to get them to dig deeper into their belief and share more about their thinking.
3) Empathize with what they are saying.
Whatever you do, do not lie or mis-represent the truth. It's okay to say you don't know if you don't know!
4) Talk about how it's your Union and you get to make decisions together.
Slide 9
Practice!
Slide 10
Reflect on what co-workers have said about not liking or feeling they don't need to be a part of the Union. Take a couple of minutes to jot down things people have said.
Then we're going to roleplay these with a partner. Take turns playing the role of the skeptic and then switch to playing yourself as the skeptic.
This is the only small group activity that we will have today. But if it would be supportive for you and how you are feeling today to spend all of your time journaling instead of roleplaying, please use the rename function on Zoom to add a "J" before your name.
https://padlet.com/ty8ggjf59x/03-may-pluses-and-deltas-dehmysq7n18goysh
Thanks!