So I’m confused, I thought the national contract was voted holistically by the union membership. How are some Unions ratified and using the new contract whereas others are still negotiating?? I understand they are in different unions but I thought it had to be approved by all of them to take effect?
2 replies (most recent on top)
As each business is becoming more independent, I expect each business will negotiate with their unions based on the status of the business. It makes it easy for GE to do it as a large group but as we are seeing some businesses are in the tank and others doing fair to good. It has its pluses and minuses for the union. But I guess we will see. Bottom line is that going out on strike is a very poor decision for the unions. Their members will never make up for the lost wages.
It is all a big scam to take union dues and each local pushes what GE offers at contract time. Every time a new contract arrives GE takes more and more back. Some locals are scared and will take it up the rear. Some will fight back to keep what they have and try to gain more for the membership. Is your local pushing for this toilet paper contract? Are the members going to continue to give more back to the company? Higher Healthcare? Take away more perks to make money? Then why pay union dues? That union dues we pay could cover the healthcare? Then next contract we will take a pay cut! Ride it out until the $2 billion in cuts come to Power. It will be raining pink slips soon enough.