Dec. 7, 1999
Reader feels unionization is bad for the Lab
Having just spent four hours in a training session regarding HEERA and associated policies at the Laboratory, I feel obligated to add my opinion to the plethora of letters regarding this subject. First of all, myself and 19 other people were spending four hours listening to what we could and could not do and say regarding future unionization actions at the Lab. We were told about the policies and procedures being drawn up about who can put what type of poster where. This led me to ponder the enormous amount of money we are now spending in order to prepare for this new phase of work life. At the same time, I worry that a large number of employees will not take the time to understand what it means to sign a card or choose fair-share payments over union membership, or to know the difference between exclusive and nonexclusivie representation.
In my opinion, unionization is bad for the Laboratory. I speak from experience. During my four years at Southwestern Bell, I saw the same types of things go on there as happen here. Some managers are unfair; some workers are lazy. Some managers are lazy. Some employees work hard; others slack. On top of all this was imposed a union contract that irreparably fractured the workforce.
Managers were managers; union employees were union employees; and never the twain shall meet. This Laboratory is already fractured. The current pay series is, for all practical purposes, a class structure. The last thing we need is further classification of employees.
The bottom line is ... people are people. A rotten manager is going to be a rotten manager even with a union in place. An employee who works hard and cares about his/her job will be the same person, with or without a union. Union practices, such as seniority preference, job descriptions, strikes and failure/delay in implementing a contract, can seriously effect union members and fair share contributors in profoundly negative ways. My opinion is to vote no on the question of unions -- given the chance; my suggestion is to be as educated as possible and vote -- given the chance.
--Susan (Markus) Coulter