UA Local 290 Plumbers and Steamfitters
35 Things Your Employer Cannot Do!
[Click here to read all 35 things]
Let the UA Lead the Way
A long time ago, mankind learned that by teaming up with others, he
could tackle any task with greater success. Thus, villages and towns
were formed - together, men could provide a safer and more stable life
for themselves and their families.
The
principle of a trade union is much the same. A Union, a group of
dedicated men and women striving toward the same goals, provides
security and dignity for all members.
[Click here to read the entire article]
Top 10 Reasons Why You Need a Local #290 Contract Where You Work
[Click here to read all 10 reasons]
35 Things Your Employer Cannot Do!
Any
of the acts listed on this page constitutes a violation. If your
employer does any of these things, make a note of it, including names
of those involved, time, place, etc., and report such incidents to
Local #290.
Do You Know
It is unlawful for your employer, supervisor or foreman to interfere
with, restrain or coerce employees seeking to organize or join a union.
Any of the acts listed below constitutes a violation of the National
Labor Relations Act, as Amended.
The Employer Cannot
1. Attend any union meeting, park across the street from the hall or
engage in any activity which would indicate that the employees are
being kept under surveillance to determine who is and who is not
participating in the union program;
2. Tell employees that the company will fire or punish them if they engage in union activity;
3. Lay off, discharge, discipline any employee for union activity;
4. Grant employees wage increases, special concessions or benefits in order to keep the union out;
5. Bar employee-union representatives from soliciting employee's
memberships on or off the company property during non-working hours.
6. Ask employees about union matters, meetings, etc., (Some employees
may, of their own accord, walk up and tell of such matters. It is not
an unfair labor practice to listen, but to ask questions to obtain
additional information is illegal.);
7. Ask employees what they think about the union or a union representative once the employee refuses to discuss it;
8. Ask employees how they intend to vote;
9. Threaten employees with reprisal for participating in union
activities. For example, threaten to move the plant or close the
business, curtail operations or reduce employee's benefits;
10. Promise benefits to employees if they reject the union;
11. Give financial support or other assistance to a union;
12. Announce that the company will not deal with the union;
13. Threaten to close, in fact close, or move plant in order to avoid dealing with a union;
14. Ask employees whether or not they belong to a union, or have signed up for union representation;
15. Ask an employee, during the hiring interview, about his affiliation
with a labor organization or how he feels about unions;
16. Make anti-union statements or act in a way that might show preference for a non-union man;
17. Make distinctions between union and non-union employees when assigning overtime work or desirable work;
18. Purposely team up non-union men and keep them apart from those supporting the union;
19. Transfer workers on the basis of union affiliations or activities;
20. Choose employees to be laid off in order to weaken the union's strength or discourage membership in the union;
21. Discriminate against union people when disciplining employees;
22. By nature of work assignments, create conditions intended to get rid of an employee because of his union activity;
23. Fail to grant a scheduled benefit or wage increase because of union activity;
24. Deviate from company policy for the purpose of getting rid of a union supporter;
25. Take action that adversely affects an employee's job or pay rate because of union activity;
26. Threaten workers or coerce them in an attempt to influence their vote;
27. Threaten a union member through a third party;
28. Promise employees a reward or a future benefit if they decide "no union';
29. Tell employees overtime work (and premium pay) will be discontinued if the plant is unionized;
30. Say unionization will force the company to lay off employees;
31. Say unionization will do away with vacations or other benefits and privileges presently in effect;
32. Promise employees promotions, raises or other benefits if they get
out of the union or refrain from joining the union;
33. Start a petition or circular against the union or encourage or take
part in its circulation if started by employees;
34. Urge employees to try to induce others to oppose the union or keep out of it;
35. Visit the homes of employees to urge them to reject the union.
HERE IS THE LAW
YOUR PROTECTION
SECTION 8. (a) It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer-
(1) to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7:
(3) by discrimination in regard to hire or tenure of employment to
encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization
WHAT THIS MEANS
It
means employees are supposed to have a FREE CHOICE in deciding whether
or not they want to use their right to organize. Anything that an
employer does to interfere with this free choice is against the law.
It means that employers who get 'nose trouble' during an organizing
campaign are breaking the law. An employer is not supposed to question
employees, or even to find out, about how employees feel, who signed
cards, which employees are pushing the union, who attended the
meetings, what went on at the meetings, etc. It is none of their
business.
It means that an employer is not supposed to make any promises of
raises, promotions or other benefits in order to influence employees in
the exercise of their rights.
It means that an employer cannot take away, or threaten to take away,
any benefits which you already have because of your union activity.
It means that it is illegal for an employer to penalize an employee in
any manner because of his union activity or belief. This includes such
things as cutting out overtime, transferring to a less desirable job,
suspension or discharge. (If an employer does any of these things, and
it is proven that it was done because of union activity, he must
reinstate the employee to his former position without loss of seniority
and pay him for all lost wages, plus interest).
HERE IS THE LAW
YOUR RIGHTS
"SECTION
7. Employees shall have the right to self organize, to form, join, or
assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through
representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted
activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid
or protection. . . ."
It means that employees have the legal right
to help organize, to join and to support a union of their own choosing.
This includes such activities as signing a union card, getting others
to sign cards, attending union meetings, wearing union buttons, passing
out union literature and talking union to other employees.
It states that employees have the legal right to join together and work as a team in order to help each other.
It says that employees have the legal right to deal with their employer as a group, rather than individually.
It gives employees the legal right to take such group action as they
feel necessary in order to gain their desired goals so long as these
actions violate no other laws.
It does not mean that employees have the right to carry on union
activity to interfere with their jobs. (For this purpose, break time
and lunch time are not considered as working hours.)
United Association
of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry
Why Consider Joining A Union
A long time ago, mankind learned that by teaming up with others, he
could tackle any task with greater success. Thus, villages and towns
were formed - together, men could provide a safer and more stable life
for themselves and their families.
The
principle of a trade union is much the same. A Union, a group of
dedicated men and women striving toward the same goals, provides
security and dignity for all members.
The
voices of many are louder than the voice of an individual. The United
Association speaks for its members, working to achieve job security,
health and welfare benefits, a living wage, a safe working environment,
and a comfortable pension.
When
you join a union you are joining a democracy. Each member has the
opportunity to voice his concerns and suggestions, working for a better
life for all.
What Union Should You Join?
Naturally when you decide to join a union, you will want one which best
represents the work you do. The United Association represents workers
who may be Building Trades Craftsmen, journeyman or apprentices,
tradesmen, helpers, trainees or any other work classification used in
the plumbing and pipefitting industry. They also represent utility and
production workers, maintenance and/or service personnel, marine
pipefitters, production workers, engineers, technicians and/or any
other worker classification that fits into work that could fall under
UA jurisdiction.
Because
the United Association is composed of craftsmen who share skills and
experience, it is well-suited to help you achieve your goals. The local
union officers, elected by the local union members, have a working
knowledge of the conditions and the demands of the trade. They can
speak with authority on the problems and challenges that the workers
face daily on the jobsite.
If
you are employed at the plumbing and/or pipefitting trade or on any
other type of work allied to or connected in any manner with the
plumbing and pipefitting industry then the United Association is for
you.
What is the United Association?
The United Association is an effective international union made up of
the most skilled pipe tradesmen the construction industry has ever
known. It is a union which protects its members and jurisdiction at
every level. The United Association is composed of journeymen and
apprentices in every division of the plumbing and pipefitting industry.
A
democratic organization, with officers elected by the membership, the
United Association is affiliated with the various departments of the
AFL-CIO and the Canadian Federation of Labour.
The
United Association is international, having members in Canada as well
as the United States. It is an organization that you can be proud to be
a part of.
Why Does the United Association Exist?
All unions were born of necessity. During the Industrial Revolution,
working men and women were treated very unfairly. There were no child
labor laws, and thousands of children - some as young as five years old
- worked ten-hour days under oppressive conditions.
It
was standard practice for employers to demand that their employees work
ten hour days, seven days a week. There were no vacations, no sick
leave, no workmen's compensation, no pensions, and no health and safety
laws. Working men, women and children had nothing to look forward to -
their lives were spent working, and they worked until they died.
In
the mid - 1800s, the trade union movement began in earnest. The United
Association was officially born on October 11, 1889, when 40 delegates
from 23 unions traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the founding
convention.
The convention
was held to ensure that workers would no longer be taken advantage of.
Almost all of the benefits and protections enjoyed by American workers
today are a direct result of the trade union movement.
What Can The United Association Do For You?
The United Association and its local unions work to provide members a
fair wage and safe working conditions, process grievances, and protect
members from unjust and injurious competition. All local unions have
training facilities, health and welfare plans, and pension plans. The
United Association provides training for both apprentices and
journeymen, making the UA craftsmen the very best.
Journeymen
may take advantage of training sessions which provide up-to-date
technology necessary to United Association members so that they can be
kept abreast of innovations and changes in the industry, thereby
insuring that their skilled are current and in demand.
If
you working in any industry allied to the plumbing and pipefitting
trade it is important to your future to become a member of the United
Association. Join with thousands of craftsmen who have united to build
a secure, prosperous future for themselves and their families.
What Type of Work is performed by United Association Members?
United Association members work in variety of settings from bungalows
to power stations, doing new construction and maintenance, air
conditioning, heating, refrigeration and plumbing service work.
They
install and service fire sprinkler systems, perform marine pipefitting,
gas fitting, pipe fabrication and assembly, lead burning, manufacturing
of mechanical parts and equipment, air4 and water balance, pneumatic
and electrical control work, startup of all mechanical equipment,
quality control and non-destructive testing on all types of jobs or
products, appliance service and repair, inplant operation of mechanical
systems, servicing utility plants and systems.
As
a United Association member, you may be working at your job on single
family residences, apartments, commercial establishments, office
buildings, hospitals, airports, shipyards, fabrication shops, shopping
centers, offshore oil rigs, manufacturing plants, refineries, power
houses, pipelines, utility plants, and systems and/or any other site
where work of the United Association is being preformed.
Who Hires United Association Member to do this work?
United Association members are employed by plumbing and mechanical
contractors, fire sprinkler contractors, plumbing, heating,
refrigeration and air conditioning service companies, shipbuilders
(private and federal sector) building, and plant owners, utility
companies, quality control contractors, control companies, air and
water balance companies, chain stores, food processing companies, paper
mills, power plants, hospitals, school systems, universities and
colleges, federal, state and local governments, manufacturing
companies, recreational centers (such as Disney World), fabricating
shops, refineries, casinos, electric power companies. In short, the
United Association represented workers are a vital part of virtually
every industry in the United States of America and Canada.
How does the United Association Operate?
The United Association is led by a group of General Officers who are
elected by delegates at a convention held every five years. Members who
attend these conventions as delegates are elected by their brother
members at the local union level.
The
General Office has many departments and functions, including
Jurisdiction, Organizing, Training, Legislative and Safety. Each
General Officer pledges to uphold the United Association constitution
and to protect the interest and welfare of all members.
How many Locals and Members are in the United Association?
Currently there are over 400 local unions in the United Association, with in excess of 300,000 members.
The
local unions are located in all 50 states of America and in every
province of Canada. Members are free to travel from one local area to
another to satisfy the needs of local work conditions.
Where can you Learn more about The United Association?
Every major city in the United States has one or more United
Association local unions. When you are ready to learn more about the
United Association, you may contact the United Association local
nearest your home and talk with its representative.
For
further information you may contact the headquarters of the United
Association by writing to: Organizing Department, United Association of
Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of
the United States and Canada, United Association Building, 901
Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. ~ Washington, D.C. 20001 ~ (202) 628-5823 ~
Fax (202) 628-5024 ~ http://www.ua.org
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Top 10 Reasons Why You Need a Local #290 Contract Where You Work
Reason 10 It's the way to more STABILITY AND SECURITY
With all the ups and downs, in the construction industry, you don't
always know where your next job will be - and what kind of pay and
benefits you'll have when you get there. But as a Local #290 member,
the pay, benefits and working conditions in your union contract are
guaranteed - you carry them with you from job to job.
Reason 9. You get fully - paid HEALTH INSURANCE
Local #290 members have health insurance provided by their contract;
Local #290's health plan covers the entire family for Medical, Dental,
Vision, and more. And when you're a Local #290 member, your health
benefits are portable - your coverage follows you from job to job.
Reason 8. You have more RETIREMENT SECURITY
Retirement security is hard to come by when you work in construction.
But Local #290 members have collectively - bargained pensions they can
count on - they accrue benefits on every job.
Reason 7. You have access to the BEST JOBS in town
When you form a union where you work, and or become a member of Local
#290 it makes you eligible to work on high-paying union construction
jobs all over town, and in other cities and states.
Reason 6. Safety Hazards are reduced
Construction work is extremely dangerous - it has the second highest
injury rate of any major industry - and pressure to cut corners and
work fast make it all the more hazardous. But Local #290 members get
more safety training, have avenues to address problems and make
worksites safer, and are more likely to have access to proper equipment
- and are half as likely to have life threatening accidents during
their work careers.
Fact:
Every day, four American workers die because of construction-site
accidents. Every year more than 1,000 construction workers are killed
on the job.
Reason 5. You get better TRAINING AND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Whether you're an apprentice or an experienced journeyman, training is
provided by your Local #290 contract - at no cost to you. Apprentices
get paid while learning basic skills. And advanced training lets
journeyman upgrade their skills and keep up with technological changes.
Unions and union contractors:
· Invest more than $500 million a year in training
· Have more than 2,000 training facilities around the country
· Train more than 180,000 apprentices and 500,000 journey-level workers every year
Reason 4. You have RESPECT and a PARTNERSHIP at work
Ever been told to do something a certain way, even though you knew it
wasn't the right way? Having a Local #290Contract means having a
partnership with your employer and a say in decisions on the job. Your
views and skills are respected. You work with your co-workers to solve
problems. And you have what you need to get the job done right - the
first time!
Reason 3. The same set of RULES applies to everyone
Because they're negotiated by and for everyone on the job, Local #290
contracts emphasize equality and fair treatment. They provide a written
set of rules that applies to everyone - and on every job - eliminating
favoritism and discrimination and guaranteeing that no one can be
unfairly or arbitrarily disciplined or dismissed.
Reason 2.You help build a STRONGER COMMUNITY
By forming a union where you work, and joining Local #290 you're
creating more good jobs - and building a more secure future for
yourself and your community. When you replace low-wage and temporary
jobs with good union jobs, you boost local economies, lift living
standards, strengthen tax bases, and reduce the burden on taxpayers by
lowering the number of unemployed and uninsured.
Reason 1. You also make a LOT MORE MONEY
While rates vary from local to local and from region to region, union
Plumbers & Pipefitters on average make 41% more in wages than
non-union workers. And when you are paid fairly, you don't have to work
so much overtime and you can spend more time with your family.
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