Like many of you, I saw the return to office email this morning. I'm writing to express my disappointment with this decision, and to urge you to join me in forming a union.
Over the last three years, employees at Schwab have proven that we can work from home effectively. In fact, many of us have found that we can work even better from home. We've saved time and money on commuting and childcare, and we've been able to better balance our work and personal lives. We've also been more productive, as evidenced by Schwab's record profits and successful TDA integration.
Despite our success, Schwab management has decided to force us back into the office. This decision is not based on any business need, but rather on a desire to exert control over our lives. It's a clear sign that management does not value our work or our well-being.
If you’ve been at Schwab for any length of time you have likely seen more than one example of decisions being made that don’t consider or represent the best interest of the employees. We cannot allow boardroom executives to continue to treat us this way. We must stand up for ourselves and demand better. The only way to do that is to form a union.
A union will give us the power to bargain with management on our behalf. We can negotiate for better pay, benefits, and working conditions. We can also fight back against unfair treatment, such as discrimination and harassment.
In addition, a union can help us ensure that we are paid fairly. Annual merit pay increases this year were around 3%, even though Schwab posted massive profits, senior executives pocketed millions in bonuses, and inflation was over 15% in some cases. A union can help us negotiate for better pay raises, so that we can share fairly in Schwab’s success, and aren’t effectively taking a pay cut every year.
I know that some of you are not opposed to returning to the office. You may like the social interaction, or you may feel more productive in the office. But I urge you to consider the following:
- A union will give us the flexibility to choose whether we want to work from home or in the office.
- A union will give us a voice in decision-making, so that we can have a say in how we work.
- A union will protect us from unfair treatment, so that we can feel safe and secure at work.
If you're not opposed to returning to the office, but you're concerned about your rights and your future at Schwab, I urge you to join us. Together, we can make a difference.
I also know that some of you don't like change. You may be worried about how a union will change things at Schwab. But I urge you to consider the following:
- Change is inevitable. The world is changing, and our workplaces are changing with it.
- A union is not a threat to change. A union is a way to manage change in a way that benefits everyone.
- A union can help us adapt to change, so that we can thrive in the new world of work.
If you're afraid of change, but you want to make sure that Schwab is a great place to work for the future, I urge you to join us. Together, we can shape the future of Schwab.
Finally, I know that some of you are afraid of losing your jobs. You may be worried that if you join a union, you'll be fired. But I urge you to consider the following:
- The law protects your right to join a union.
- Schwab is a profitable company. It can afford to pay us a fair wage and provide us with good benefits.
- A union can help us protect our jobs. We can bargain for better compensation and working conditions that will not only contribute to our work/life balance, but will by extension allow us to better serve our clients.
If you're afraid of losing your job, but you want to make sure that you have a secure future at Schwab, I urge you to join us. Together, we can make Schwab a better place to work, and we can protect our jobs.
If you're interested in learning more about forming a union, please join us on Guilded (If you are new to Guilded, please create a username that will not identify you). You can find us at https://www.guilded.gg > search for “Charles Schwab Employee Union” group, or by using this link to apply to join. The group is private and confidential: https://www.guilded.gg/r/zzwRePMJLj?i=40919YVd
We'll be holding a meeting on Saturday, June 24nd at 12pm Pacific Time. You can find the link to the meeting on our Guilded server calendar once you join our Guilded server.
Please spread the word and bring a friend. We need as many people involved as possible.
Thank you for your time. I hope to see you there.