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Employers will use every tool at their disposal. They'll use letters, rumors, threats, phony committees, captive audience meetings, special perks, videos and anything else they can
think of.
These methods are contained in standard propaganda packages developed and sold by highly paid professional "union-busting" consultants (paid approximately $1,000 - $1,500 a
day plus expenses). They are designed to confuse workers into thinking that they don't want or need a Union. Don't allow some highly paid "consultant" to tell you how to think. Don't be distracted - even
by a small group of employees who may be misled by management and are campaigning against you and your right to have a union.
THESE "UNION BUSTERS" TELL MANAGEMENT WHAT TO DO.
Following is a checklist of tactics "union busters" use to defeat union campaigns. Use this guide to prepare yourself and your colleagues for what's going to happen. Keep
track by checking each tactic off when management starts!
PRESSURE FROM SUPERVISORS:
Supervisors will be front-line troops against the union delivering letters, informal chats and speeches prepared by the "Union Busters."
LETTERS, LEAFLETS, MEMOS AND MORE MEMOS:
The "Union Busters" will write you many letters and hand out lots of leaflets during the union organizing campaign... only the letters will be signed by upper
management, not the consultants.
INCREASES IN PAY:
Will increases in pay increase YOUR ability to provide improved patient care, or is this merely a band-aid, designed to pacify you and keep them from forming a collective voice..
LOVE LETTERS:
In some of the letters, the "union busting" consultants will have management say how much they really appreciate what all of you do for the organization. They might even
admit mistakes! They want to convince you that the "boss" is really a good person who can be trusted with your future.
THE UGLY UNION LETTERS:
Most of the letters will paint a pretty ugly picture of the union. Management will want you to think the union is just out for money. They will even refer to the union as a
"Third Party." The FACT is, the workers ARE the union - they form the collective voice. The workers will have their own representatives and will decide what issues they wish to promote.
LOVE OFFERINGS:
The "Union Busters" will tell management to give you some unexpected perks (i.e. bonuses, paid lunches, parties, etc...) They want you to believe you don't need a union
to get good things and improve patient care.
LET'S BE PALS:
Management will be everywhere. Walking the floors - on every shift. Setting up spur-of-the-moment chats so he/she can find out what's on your mind. "Don't' let a 3rd party
come between our wonderful relationship!" BEWARE
ONE-ON-ONES:
Your supervisors may call you in for face-to-face talks about the union. You have no choice if they insist, however, you do have the right to ask a fellow employee to sit in with
you. Also, you do NOT have to divulge your interest in the Union. The supervisor has been told what to say by the "union buster consultants."
DIVIDE AND CONQUER:
They will try to play one group against the other: "Disloyal" union supporters against "loyal pro-employer" union opponents; men vs. women, older vs. younger,
day shift vs. night shift, one department against another - whatever works for them.
"VOTE-NO" COMMITTEE:
A small group of employees might be set up to "stand up" for the employer. They want to "save" the organization from the Union. The "Union Buster" is
behind this committee and is training the leaders on how to destroy the union organizing efforts.
CAPTIVE AUDIENCE MEETINGS:
Employees might be required, on paid time, to attend meetings where top management will deliver a speech. It is not an open debate.
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