UHS Valley Health System Unionizing news

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Union employees have advantages over their non-union counterparts. For example, unionized workers are able to negotiate higher wages, benefits and working conditions.

Collective Bargaining is the process in which working people, through their Union, negotiate 

contracts with their employer to determine their terms of employment, including pay, benefits, hours, leave, job health and safety policies, ways to balance  work, family and more. 

Collective bargaining is a way to solve workplace problems by having a binding contract with terms that both parties agree to. The right to collectively bargain is essential so that working men and women have the strength to improve their living standards, provide for their families and build a strong middle class.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) can help workers improve their wages, benefits and working conditions thru Union bargaining. The ability to bargain has helped  Thousands of workers across the country.  

The IAM is here to assist employees who look to unionize as a means of improving their working conditions and way of life. With the IAM representing Healthcare Workers at the negotiation table, we look to get these professionals a contract representing all of the services the IAM has to offer. From improved wages, benefits and a say in the workplace, having  a collective bargaining agreement in place can help in improving work  production and moral. 

Do you want Job Security, Grievance &  Arbitration Procedures, Protected Seniority, IAM Pension, Annual Wage Increase, More Paid Time Off and Better Health Care? The IAM is ready,  willing and able to work alongside and support you and your co-workers  efforts in organizing your workplace and it can only happen by having  the IAM Union in your corner.

Step  1 - Receive contact from interested employees. Usually this happens via  phone communication, email or a contact form filled out on this  website. A meet and greet is then arranged to explain the information  needed by the IAM to move forward in assessing support in the unit.

Step  2 - Start identifying people to assist inside the facility (on-site  committee/team members). Their job is to keep you informed on where we  are in the process, hand out any literature and help you get answers to  your questions. If you are interested in becoming a leader inside or  would just like to ask us questions, call 1-844-732-5855  (1-844-REALTLK).

Step  3 - Determine if there is genuine interest in forming a union by making contact with the employees. If you are serious in changing your future  for the better, we ask you and your co-workers to fill out an “Authorization Card”  also known as the “(A-Card).” This is how we gauge the support level of a group. Filling out an “A” Card  is the first step in attaining justice on the job and is completely  confidential - your employer will NOT see it.

Step  4 - If there is enough interest among your group, the IAM will file a  “Petition” for representation with The National Labor Relations Board  (NLRB).

Step  5 - A “hearing” is then needed to define the “unit”. The Company and  the IAM need to determine who among the group of employees are to be  represented by the Union. There are certain individuals such as  Supervisors that may not belong in the Union. This step determines who  is appropriate based on classification and job duties. This process  moves very quickly within a few days.

Step  6 - Once the “unit” is defined, we contact everyone in the unit to  answer any questions they may have and again assess the level of  support. If support has diminished, we will “pull the petition”. By  pulling the petition, you and your co-workers will have to wait 6 months  to re-file for election as we attempt to build up additional support. If the petition is not pulled and a “secret ballot election” was  conducted and lost, the IAM would have to wait a full year to start over  with the process of helping you form a union. Voting NO for IAM  representation would be a VOTE against yourself towards earning better wages, benefits and working conditions.

Step  7 - If the support is strong from the group, we will move forward in  the process. We then ask the employer to voluntarily “recognize” the  IAM. If the employer refuses, which is often the case, we will move  forward to a secret ballot election, which usually takes less than 30  days from start to finish to reach an election.

Step 8 - The IAM wins the right to represent the workers by a vote of 50% +1 as the bargaining agent for the employees.

Step  9 - The next step in negotiating a contract is surveying the employees  to identify their issues and priorities. A negotiating committee is then formed, consisting of employees in your bargaining unit that you elect. Alongside with experienced IAM representatives, this negotiating  committee then meets with the company to start contract negotiations. Once a “tentative agreement” is reached, you and your co-workers will  vote on whether to accept or reject the contract offer. It’s important to remember that the stronger the solidarity with the workers, the better the contract!

Step  10 - If the majority of the unit accepts the contract, CONGRATULATIONS,  you are now a Union under a collective bargaining agreement with the  many protections and benefits you deserve. If the majority rejects the contract, both sides may return to the bargaining table to refine the terms and work out the differences. If both sides cannot agree on the new terms, you will vote on whether to strike the company or not. If 2/3  (66%) of the voting unit votes to strike, a strike may be called. In some cases the company returns to the bargaining table after the strike vote in order to avoid the strike because they know their employees are serious. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of all IAM contracts are negotiated  without a strike. Yet in that rare instance, you, the members, not the  IAM determines whether to strike or not.