1. law, govt and politics
2. legal issues
3. human rights

CPEhr Management
Training
presents
How to Prevent
Unionization
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Objectives
Identify reasons employees join or
reject unions
 Recognize signs of a union
organizing campaign
 Learn legal and effective action to
take to avoid unionization in your
workplace

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
How Much Do You Know?
1. You may not tell employees what you think about
unions. True or False?
2. Unions are only for manufacturing industries.
True or False?
3. The behavior of supervision and management has
very little to do with unionization True or False?
4. You always have time to plan and act when you
become aware of union activity. True or False?
copyright© 2010 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
What is a Labor Union?



Legally recognized collection of
employees who organize to equalize
the bargaining power between
management and employees
Private sector unions strictly regulated
by the NLRB (NLRA)
SEIU, AFL-CIO, UFCW, CNA
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
A Union Means…

To Management:
 Loss of operational flexibility
 Loss of merit based systems
 Loss of “team” mind set by
employees
 Cost
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
A Union Means…

To Supervisors:
 Confined to the contract
 Inability to deal with employees
directly
 Challenges to supervisory
authority
 Cooperation of 3rd party
 Time
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
A Union Means…

To Employees:
 Loss of merit based system
 No longer able to discuss
issues directly with
management
 Cost of dues and fees
 Strikes
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Why Do Employees
Join Unions?
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Growth &
Development
Pride in
work/recognition
Reasonable coworkers/good
leadership
Fair wages and
benefits
Safe environment
Reality Check

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Wishy-washy, micromanaging or absent
leadership
Poor communications
Favoritism and inconsistent treatment
Disregard of employees as members of
the team
Disrespectful, demeaning, humiliating,
undignified treatment
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Are You Vulnerable?
Are supervisors fair?
 Are supervisors trained to be
leaders?
 Are resources available?
 Does the company culture
encourage:



Communication
Professionalism and respect
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Are You Vulnerable?

Are employees:
Treated fairly and consistently?
 Listened to ?
 Recognized?

Are working conditions good?
 Is there a open-door policy?
 Are complaints taken seriously?

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Reasons Employees Reject
Unions
 Good
employee relations
 Good
supervisors
 Recognition
 Pride in work
 Fair discipline
Employees are already happy
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Signs of a Union-Organizing
Campaign



Changes in complaints
Large number of inquiries about
policies especially, pay, benefits and
discipline
Change in vocabulary, especially
phrases “protected activities”,
“grievances”, “unfair labor practices”
copyright© 2010 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Organizing Techniques

Organizers play on the negative
feelings, anger and resentment of
employees because of poor
management to manipulate employees
into a union choice

Technically savvy: Facebook, Twitter,
MySpace and other social networks to
create a membership
copyright©
2010 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Techniques to Organize

Salts


Union employees hired by a company to
infiltrate
Inside organization

Company employees who
 Are targeted by union because of
dissatisfaction
 Are union sympathizers
 Approach unions requesting
information
copyright© 2010 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Where Unions Organize

On the premises


Break rooms, parking lots, restrooms
Shifts with fewer managers
At employee homes
 In public places




Grocery stores
Shopping centers
On the street
copyright© 2010 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
How Campaigns Occur

Campaigns can be:
 Secretive
 Open, mass meetings and
corporate campaigns
 May notify management in
advance or may wait until fully
organized
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
How Much Do You Know?
1. You may fire an employee for supporting a union
True or False
2. Unions never go to an employee’s home and
solicit membership True or False
3. Favoritism and inconsistent treatment of
employees impacts the morale of staff
True or False
4. Bullying by management can encourage a union
friendly environment True or False
copyright© 2010 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
© Business & Legal Reports, Inc. 1007
Consider This
Typically employees don’t quit
companies, they quit managers
Employees don’t vote FOR
unions,
They vote AGAINST management
copyright© 2010 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Prevention Techniques
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
As a Company

Implement and enforce a No
Solicitation/No Distribution policy



Enforce it in a non-discriminatory manner
Be clear on definitions: work time, work
area
Other Policies



Off duty access
Bulletin boards
Internal grievance process
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Assess the Environment

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Do individuals feel safe?
Does the culture of the workplace
encourage respect, and courtesy?
Do management and employees alike
think as a WHOLE team?
Are opinions and ideas are
encouraged?
Is two-way communication the norm?
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
The Workplace Culture




People want real life examples to
follow
They want to be treated fairly AND
they want to see people who break the
rules held accountable
It is natural to want to be a part of an
organization where it is comfortable to
do the right thing
Employees want positive leadership
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
As The Leader
Understand the handbook
 Work with HR, especially if you feel
there is an “exception”
 Always document even informal
corrections and coachings
 Address performance not
personality
 Be available: “see” your team

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Be Fair



Avoid favorites
Apply the policies evenly
 Coach, guide, encourage whenever
possible
 Discipline when necessary
 Deal with issues immediately
 Work only with facts, avoid rumors
Make evaluations honest and
constructive AND TIMELY
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Be Professional
Never gossip or leap to
conclusions from hearsay
 Criticize in private, praise in public
 Keep your promises
 Never yell, shout or raise your
voice in anger
 Use HR; never feel you must solve
all issues alone

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Motivate Your Staff
Expect the best from both yourself
and your team
 Acknowledge stellar moments
 Acknowledge steady moments too
 Make sure expectations are clearly
defined and understood

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Inspire
Be the role model
If you don’t care, why should
your employees?
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Communication



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Be accessible formally and informally
Always follow-up, even if the answer
is no
All issues are important—to someone
Give advance notice of changes
Ask for input and opinions and
LISTEN
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Teach Leadership

See employees as the individual
ADULTS they are



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Drop the parental attitude
Them and Us- drop it!
Realize that leadership is nonstop
Make every decision inclusive of the
impact on employees
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Orientations



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Gives the big picture
Shows the employee how they fit in
this picture; why they are unique and
valued
Take time—full day or longer
Orientation is where introduction of
the culture begins

Maintain this cultural perception
throughout the work environment
routinely
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Let Employees Participate
Surveys
 Suggestion boxes
 Performance reviews
 Invite guest employees to meeting
 Newsletters
 Brown Bag luncheons

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Fair Wages, Benefits,
Appreciation

Make sure employees KNOW all
the benefits available to them
 Fair Wages
 Benefits
 Performance Appraisals
(provides opportunities for growth,
development and formal
appreciation)
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
From the Top Down
Everyone should recognize the
value of each other individually and
as a team
 Always be professional, courteous
and constructive
 All employees should have a clear
vision of their purpose and how
they fit into the whole picture

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
To Be Union-Free
Employees don’t need
protection from fair,
honest and positive
leadership
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
July Webinar
TOPIC:
Is It Time to Outsource
Your Human Resources?
July 31, 2014
12 noon – 1 pm
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
HRCI Credit
Program ID: ORG-PROGRAM-213508
Title: How to Prevent Unionization
 Start Date: 6/26/2014
End Date: 6/26/2014
 Recertification Credit Hours Awarded:
1.0
 Specified Credit Hours: General

copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved
Presented by:
Linda Robinson, PHR
Training & Development Manager
CPEhr
[email protected]
310-270-9806
copyright© 2014 CPE HR, Inc. All rights reserved