Union Images - Part I

Building Building Strong Strong UnionsUnions

Union Image Union Image BuildingBuildingPart I

Key Points: Key Points: Image-BuildingImage-Building

The Labor Movement The Labor Movement has an image problemhas an image problem

This image problem This image problem directly influences directly influences attitudes of members attitudes of members and nonmembers and nonmembers towards unionstowards unions

This image problem, in This image problem, in part, stems from myths part, stems from myths and misconceptions and misconceptions about unionsabout unions

Improving the Union Image 2

More Key More Key PointsPoints

Many of the myths and Many of the myths and misconceptions misconceptions concerning unions concerning unions involve strikes, involve strikes, violence, corruption, violence, corruption, and greed.and greed.

All levels of the Labor All levels of the Labor Movement must actively Movement must actively challenge these myths challenge these myths and misconceptions in and misconceptions in order to improve labor’s order to improve labor’s image.image.

Image-building efforts Image-building efforts should focus on labor’s should focus on labor’s own members, the own members, the community, the news community, the news media, and the schoolsmedia, and the schools


Labor MovementLabor Movement

Significant Significant ContributionsContributions

EconomicEconomic SocialSocial PoliticalPolitical

Remember and RemindRemember and Remind


Image DefinedImage Defined

Mental picture, conception, impressionMental picture, conception, impression

The image of the union is an integral part The image of the union is an integral part of the member’s or nonmembers developed of the member’s or nonmembers developed attitudeattitude

Union members who picture the labor union Union members who picture the labor union in less than positive terms are unlikely to in less than positive terms are unlikely to participate in union activitiesparticipate in union activities


Confidence in Confidence in InstitutionsInstitutions


2008 Gallup Poll - 2008 Gallup Poll - ConfidenceConfidence


Significant Image Significant Image ProblemProblem

Negative Images Derived From:Negative Images Derived From: MythsMyths MisconceptionsMisconceptions Secondhand informationSecondhand information

Media (television, radio, newspapers, Media (television, radio, newspapers, magazines, internet)magazines, internet)

Family and FriendsFamily and Friends


Union Activists: Local Union Activists: Local ActionAction

Challenge and correct myths and Challenge and correct myths and misconceptions misconceptions

Must be equipped with accurate and Must be equipped with accurate and convincing information when formulating a convincing information when formulating a message message


Examine: Popular Examine: Popular Myths Myths

StrikesStrikes

GreedGreed

CorruptionCorruption

ViolenceViolence


Strikes: Public Strikes: Public PerceptionPerception

ImpressionsImpressions labor unions strike oftenlabor unions strike often strikes are disruptive in the workplace and strikes are disruptive in the workplace and

societysociety common part of every union member’s common part of every union member’s

experienceexperience strikes are long and dramaticstrikes are long and dramatic negative phenomenonnegative phenomenon should be limited by governmentshould be limited by government


Strike: Activist ReplyStrike: Activist Reply

The common cold causes more absences The common cold causes more absences each yeareach year Absences average < 1% of work time lost in Absences average < 1% of work time lost in

U.S.U.S. 1989 only 51 strikes involving 1000 workers 1989 only 51 strikes involving 1000 workers

or moreor more 1997 figure fell to 29 strikes1997 figure fell to 29 strikes Most members never experience a strike Most members never experience a strike

during their working yearsduring their working years 2008 – 14 strikes/ lowest number since 1940s2008 – 14 strikes/ lowest number since 1940s


Ban StrikesBan Strikes

Fundamental human Fundamental human rightright No less important than No less important than

the freedom of speech the freedom of speech or freedom of the or freedom of the presspress

Vital and necessary Vital and necessary part of the collective part of the collective bargaining processbargaining process Based on the Based on the

principle that principle that workers should workers should participate in participate in determining working determining working conditionsconditions

ReplyReply


Impressive StatementImpressive Statement

Free collective bargaining is the only Free collective bargaining is the only instrument that workers have to protect and promote instrument that workers have to protect and promote their interests in the economic system. Without the their interests in the economic system. Without the ultimate right to withdraw their labor, they would have no ultimate right to withdraw their labor, they would have no strength to bargain, and would have to accept whatever strength to bargain, and would have to accept whatever wages, and working conditions their employer decided to wages, and working conditions their employer decided to impose on them.impose on them.

The only thing workers have to bargain with The only thing workers have to bargain with is their skill and labor. Denied the right to withhold it as a is their skill and labor. Denied the right to withhold it as a last resort, they become powerless. The strike is therefore last resort, they become powerless. The strike is therefore not a breakdown of collective bargaining—it is the not a breakdown of collective bargaining—it is the indispensible cornerstone of that process. indispensible cornerstone of that process.

(Canadian Labor Confederation, (Canadian Labor Confederation, 1979)1979)


Greed: Public Greed: Public Perception Perception

Unions are responsible Unions are responsible for high wage levelsfor high wage levels Won at the expense of Won at the expense of

non-union workersnon-union workers High wages cause High wages cause

high prices and high prices and inflationinflation News media News media

distorts these distorts these levels by combining levels by combining wages and benefits wages and benefits as an hourly rateas an hourly rate

Union workers do not Union workers do not earn this higher payearn this higher pay

Union proposals are Union proposals are inflated and greedyinflated and greedy


Greed: Activist ReplyGreed: Activist Reply

Last 25 years wage increases generated by Last 25 years wage increases generated by unions have not kept pace with inflationunions have not kept pace with inflation On average unionized workers are On average unionized workers are significantlysignificantly

more productive than non-unionized more productive than non-unionized

Unionized have earned the right to move up Unionized have earned the right to move up economic ladder due to higher productivityeconomic ladder due to higher productivity

Higher union pay attracts better qualified Higher union pay attracts better qualified individuals to a given jobindividuals to a given job

Strong evidence to suggest wage gains are not Strong evidence to suggest wage gains are not a significant cause of inflationa significant cause of inflation


Corruption: Public Corruption: Public ImageImage

Union corruption is front page newsUnion corruption is front page news Stories linger and reinforced with each new Stories linger and reinforced with each new

allegationallegation

Sensational events tied to organized crime Sensational events tied to organized crime leave indelible impression, last for yearsleave indelible impression, last for years

Kept alive by HollywoodKept alive by Hollywood


Corruption: Activist Corruption: Activist ReplyReply

Corruption is extremely isolated with only a Corruption is extremely isolated with only a minute fraction of union leaders engaging in minute fraction of union leaders engaging in reprehensible acts of corruption.reprehensible acts of corruption. A former U.S. Attorney General concluded A former U.S. Attorney General concluded

that less than ½ of 1% of all local unions that less than ½ of 1% of all local unions experienced corruption experienced corruption (UAW (UAW “The Naked Truth about “The Naked Truth about Unions.” UAW AMMO 24(1)Unions.” UAW AMMO 24(1)

Actually, corruption and greed is a much Actually, corruption and greed is a much bigger problem among corporationsbigger problem among corporations


LMRDA: Activist ReplyLMRDA: Activist Reply

Very few institutions in American Society Very few institutions in American Society are as closely watched and regulatedare as closely watched and regulated LMRDA – federal law that governs LMRDA – federal law that governs

administration of unionsadministration of unions Lays down stringent financial and Lays down stringent financial and

administrative guidelines for unions to administrative guidelines for unions to operateoperate

Financial reports available to the publicFinancial reports available to the public


Violence: Public Violence: Public PerceptionPerception

Unions often engage in violence to achieve Unions often engage in violence to achieve their objectivestheir objectives

Reinforced byReinforced by TelevisionTelevision HeadlinesHeadlines Movies Movies



Violence: Activist Violence: Activist ReplyReply

Modern unions do not employ physical force Modern unions do not employ physical force or violence as a strategy to obtain objectivesor violence as a strategy to obtain objectives Isolated acts of irresponsible behavior by Isolated acts of irresponsible behavior by

individuals may occur but it is they are individuals may occur but it is they are responsible and are held accountable for their responsible and are held accountable for their actions, not the unionactions, not the union

Often these acts are provoked by the Often these acts are provoked by the employers or their agentsemployers or their agents

According to the FBI acts of violence are not According to the FBI acts of violence are not statistically categorized because incidents of statistically categorized because incidents of violence among unions is insignificant.violence among unions is insignificant.


Education

Union Images - Part I