What is the name of your state? Illinois
A friend of mine works for a subcontractor on a railroad line. There have been problems from the beginning concerning not only the company not following the contract, but the union not representing their membership.
Problem: When the company started up business, the HR rep said "sign this to be in the union, otherwise you can refuse, but still have to pay union dues, and union will not represent you in any grievances". There was also no notification to the employees about the contract prior to it being presented. The contract at that time, had a statement that read (basically) "the company reserves the right to change the contract at any time, without notifying union or renegotiating contract". What union would even ALLOW something like this to be placed in the contract????
Individuals were placed "wherever" the company decided (i.e. individuals with NO prior experience were being placed as Leadmen, over someone with all the qualifications and top seniority).
Now the next problem. When the contract expired late last fall, the employees sent a list of items that they would like to see negotiated to union reps. Nothing was heard from the union until the day the contract expired, when the rep from the International office came in, sat each member down and told them they either signed the contract, or they were out of a job. This was the UNION telling them this. They weren't even allowed to review the "contract" until after they signed.
A number of things were removed, nothing was added, and all they got was basically a 47 cent raise for the next three years. As it stands, the wages are $5-6 per hour LOWER than NATIONAL AVERAGE. They work 12 hour days, BUT if they want to take one of their vacation days, they are only paid for 8 HOURS. They would have to take 1.5 days to cover one. They don't even have sick time or personal time (if they got sick on the job, they either took vacation time or unpaid). Insurance is out of state, so if any of the members needed to go to a dentist, they had to pay out-of-network fees. They have contacted the union for a number of issues, with the union rep basically "brushing them off". They have have seen the rep come out less than four times in as many years.
As for the friend of mine, he is at the top of the seniority list, and has been "bypassed" for the leadman position again. There is no bidding on positions. Management "chooses" who they want in those places (those who are "yes" men, who do not have a conscience about the integrity of working "honestly"). Contractual raises on the first contract have not been enforced. There are four individuals who have put in their time and qualifications for their Journeymen Carmen's card, but the company won't give it to them - told them they "don't need it".
What recourse do these individuals have against the union and/or company? They pay a lot in union dues, for their union rep to come out to the site (the few time he did) in a limosine, decked out in "bling-bling", to spend a grand total of 1/2 hour, then leave. It is a shame that this is being allowed to happen, as there have been a number of individuals quit who were great assets to the company, because they refused to work under the "contract" and the conditions.
Thanks for any helpful hints or suggestions.
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