It is common belief that having a union
enables people to improve wages and benefits. While this is true, it is
only part of the picture. The N.L.R.A. (National Labor Relations Act)
section 7 says: “Employees shall have the right to self organization,
to form, join or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively
through representation of their own choosing and engage in other
concerted activities for collective bargaining...” Local 4 is
encouraged by these words and has taken steps to make them ring true.
The question then becomes what do we do? We
and as
we organize a common theme emerges:
Better
benefits and wages
Better
working conditions
Health
insurance and Retirement benefits
Employment opportunities
Market
share in our jurisdiction
Apprenticeship and Training
Sound familiar? Local 4 has been
successful in organizing employers that provide good wages and
benefits for employees under collective bargaining agreements. The
real goal is to build a stronger Local to better enable employees to
negotiate good contracts and increase their standard of living and
quality of life. Organizing is a task of endless hours and no material
reward, but that is not what it is about. Organizing is simply defined
as survival of what we know to be true and defining who we will be in
the future. Have a voice and be heard.
