Union Issues

[cityscape1]

What is the name of your state? North carolina

The company I work for, Cityscape Maintenance Group are pursuing contracts that require that the company be unionized in order to get those contracts. My first question is what legal process to we need to do in order to become approved unionized company and my second question is once we become unionized do we have to pay union dues on contracts that are not union based?

[LSCAP]

First contact a lawyer who works with unions.
If you call almost any local union office they can give you the name of a lawyer, their own, or one known to them, that they trust.

He/she can help you set up the bylaws of a union and the procedures involved in making the union legal. Some smaller unions I know about put limits on the president, such as he/she can only be president for one year. ( in one small union I know about, (twenty people) the biggest problem was getting one of them to become president.)

Union dues are basically used, ( at first) to pay the lawyer, then to assist the president whom you select to represent you. (either a fellow worker, or if that’s not practical you have to pay your rep a salary, and for record files, office etc.)

If I remember correctly you will not be required to join the international, but many small unions do join for their benefits. (think of rehab programs, advice on new regulations, availability of written procedures in negotiations etc.)
If you join the international you also will have to pay a Per-member dues to them. If all esle fails the internationals can help. see end of this...

I am amazed they want union contracts in an anti union state.
It is a right to work state, which means you need not join a union to work there.
The unions call it a right to starve state. I suspect they are right.

It is also a “you are hired at out convenience” state which means they can fire anyone anytime they feel like it.
Yet, if you become a union and negotiate benefits in the contract, like xxx amount an hour for med, they don’t have to worry about these items, and they are less likely to have to put up with stability of workers. Contrary to popular belief if you are a goof off, or trouble maker, the members don’t want you, as they develop pride in “Their Union”.

There are almost NO listings for unions in NC. But here is a link that might help
It is to the international.

[url]http://www.aflcio.org/[/url]

[LSCAP]

First contact a lawyer who works with unions.
If you call almost any local union office they can give you the name of a lawyer, their own, or one known to them, that they trust.

He/she can help you set up the bylaws of a union and the procedures involved in making the union legal. Some smaller unions I know about put limits on the president, such as he/she can only be president for one year. ( in one small union I know about, (twenty people) the biggest problem was getting one of them to become president.)

Union dues are basically used, ( at first) to pay the lawyer, then to assist the president whom you select to represent you. (either a fellow worker, or if that’s not practical you have to pay your rep a salary, and for record files, office etc.)

If I remember correctly you will not be required to join the international, but many small unions do join for their benefits. (think of rehab programs, advice on new regulations, availability of written procedures in negotiations etc.)
If you join the international you also will have to pay a Per-member dues to them. If all else fails the internationals can help. see end of this...

I am amazed they want union contracts in an anti union state.
It is a right to work state, which means you need not join a union to work there.
The unions call it a right to starve state. I suspect they are right.

It is also a “you are hired at out convenience” state which means they can fire anyone anytime they feel like it.
Yet, if you become a union and negotiate benefits in the contract, like xxx amount an hour for med, they don’t have to worry about these items, and they are less likely to have to put up with stability of workers. Contrary to popular belief if you are a goof off, or trouble maker, the members don’t want you, as they develop pride in “Their Union”.

There are almost NO listings for unions in NC. But here is a link that might help
It is to the international.

[url]http://www.aflcio.org/[/url]

[cityscape1]

Thank you for your reply about our union issues. I do have one more concern I hope you can help me with. In our company we have contracts all over the United States and some require that we use union workers. Is there a specific company structure that we need to form in order to hire union workers or is it as simple as filling out a Laborers' Short-Form Agreement and a Master Labor Agreement for that particular state?

[LSCAP]

There are also federal laws that have to be dealt with.

You need a lawyer.
There are too many questions you need to ask.

I wish I could help, but the best advice is get a lawyer.