The vote to ratitify the contract is happening on Wednesday. I must admit that I do admire the committment and effort that the union organizers have shown. And I love their devotion to their vision of the best interests of the Coop community. I don’t agree with their opinion that we need a union. But I am posting this because the vote is premature. The posted contract is a work in progress. It is a generic statement, for the most part. And there is no mention that I could find, of such particulars as: define part-time; initiation fee amounts; or union dues amounts, full or part time worker. The posted benefits are clear in the contract highlights, but what do they cost us? It may be a reasonable contract, but we just don’t know. Just trust them? I don’t think so. Let’s see the contract first.
Miksis
It seems like the questions
It seems like the questions being asked here should have been asked of the union negotiators. As far as not trusting your negotiators…well, who are you going to trust? What would you have them do to gain your trust? What does anybody have to do to gain your trust? Since transparency is typically an element in building trust perhaps you can start the ball rolling. How does this contract effect you? Have you read it through? What are the good parts? The bad parts? What is it missing? Did the union negotiators have a list of priorities? If so, how did they get them? Did they get everything they wanted? Did management have priorities? Did they get everything they wanted? Did the negotiators make any statements about how they felt about the process? This is a new realm for everybody. How do people in the know rate how well this went for a first time out?
I’ve never negotiated a labor contract but I have been a member of a union and read that contract as well as numerous others. I’ve read extensively about labor unions, history, contracts, negotiations and negotiators. My father was a negotiator and ultimately chief negotiator for a sizable teacher’s union so some knowledge came in that way. I also spent three years discussing, debating and often negotiating in sense a different sort of contract. Our community’s social contract, our Town Charter. Then 12 hours of discussion and debate with the Town meeting Reps. Not to mention an hour with the approving committee in the State Legislature. All of this is to say that I’ve learned that “getting to yes” requires a set of skills and attributes and qualities that are still developing even after one has put in a full lifetime devoted to improving them. Ever try to negotiatie with a person for whom feelings is all the evidence necessary?
coop union contract
Greetings, I am an employee of the Coop being asked to vote on a contract that has been presented to me. I am merely suggesting that no Coop employee should vote yea to the union on a contract with such obvious omissions i.e..: amount of union dues, initiation fees, part-time/full time designation. Are member workers included-not sure. Anyway, far too many uncertainties to vote yes. At this time it is indeed a “trust us” vote.
miksis
Did you participate?
Just curious as to whether you attended the meetings during negotiations.
More to this story?
This sounds to me like a half-told story. I keep hoping that some person with factual knowledge but with a different perspective will post a reply.
Reformer Story on Upcoming Contract Vote
http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_26092446/bratt-co-op-union-contract-vote-set-july