Get Prepared
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate...
As an employer, discuss the realities of unionization with your staff. Discuss issues such as the dues structure, the ways union representation would dramatically alter the unique relationship employees have with their employers and the decrease in the flexibility awarded to each employee by the employer, etc. Employees will receive a variety of different messages from union organizers that emphasize the positive benefits unionization will bring to them and their workplace. As an employer, it is your responsibility to educate your staff on the realities of unionization and to give them an opportunity to talk openly with you.
Employee Satisfaction Suveys
In addition to open communication, employers are encouraged to hand out an employee satisfaction survey. Contrary to union beliefs, one of the primary reasons employees choose to seek union representation is not to receive a higher salary or better benefits but, rather, because they have a grievance with a particular supervisor or process within the workplace. When you receive the surveys back, make an active effort to address and resolve these grievances. Employees who feel that their employers care about them and their needs will feel less of a desire to seek reprisal through union representation.
Understand your Legal Limits
As you communicate with your employees and address their grievances, it is important to understand the legal boundaries of your actions. It is recommended that employers discuss their legal rights with an employer attorney. In the near future, COSE will post helpful hints for employers.