Union promises and collective bargaining: What
you should know
Buffalo Team: Some of you may have seen union fliers outlining promises of better
and higher wages and benefits at GEICO. You have also probably seen news reports about other Buffalo employers – like Starbucks and Amazon – that are being targeted
by unions. At GEICO, we respect your rights when it comes to union issues. However, you
deserve to have accurate information and be informed on all topics. This is especially
true when it comes to what you may read about union promises and union organizing
involving other companies.
Here are the facts:
1. If unions make everyone better off, why is union membership so low? More than 93 percent of private employees are nonunion, This is from the latest federal statistics that were released this year.
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Just because other employees at other employers have a union does not mean you will be better off with a union at GEICO. Many news reports have publicized union organizing in Buffalo. For example, a group called “Workers United” received majority votes in some Starbucks stores, and there has been union organizing at Amazon. However, GEICO is not Starbucks or Amazon. Just because a union calls itself “GEICO United” this does not mean it
would deliver on the many promises made in leaflets. -
Unions have NOT produced higher wages and benefits at Starbucks. If you want to know whether “GEICO United” will secure or guarantee higher wages and benefits, ask what “Workers United” produced at Starbucks. In May, Starbucks announced better wages and benefits at nonunion Starbucks stores (where these changes could be made right away without proceeding through bargaining). Starbucks did NOT give these benefits at union stores (where it is “mandatory” to engage in a collective bargaining process regarding new or different changes in wages and benefits).
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A Union can't guarantee wages and benefits will be higher. For employees who have a union, the law does not require wages and benefits to increase. Instead, the law requires negotiations, which can cause wages to stay the same, or increase, or decrease.
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If you have a union, you will pay the union money through its dues. Nobody can guarantee what will result from collective bargaining. But one thing is certain: if you are represented by a union, you will pay the union money, even if unionizing is what other associates decide. In almost every case, the union in bargaining will also demand that union dues automatically be taken out of your pay. Paying union dues does not increase your compensation; it takes
away from your compensation.
You play an important role at GEICO and we value the work that you do. If you have
questions or want to talk, please let us know,
Regards,
Redacted Names