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Speaking as an employer, and a signatur with Local 456 and 131 of the Carpenters & Joiners, in Washington State, there are a number of ways to change working conditions without bargaining. One would be to lay off everyone who chose not to sign.
Washington is an at will state. I don't need a reason to fire anyone. I can fire them because I have a headache and they talked too loud. Or I can just fire them, without a reason. Then I can run through the out of work list until I find a crew I like. (Or a crew who signs.)
So there's bargaining, and there's bargaining. I know of a sub-contractor who has all of his crews "volunteer" fifty cents an hour to United Way. No donation, no job. He builds crypts in cemeteries. As construction jobs go, it's a good one. Year in, year out, at the outside scale. He doesn't have a problem getting crews to donate to his pet cause.
In this instance, though, it would be a lot easier to get one signature from a business agent than a signature from everyone on a crew. And given the other conditions that different jobs have imposed, I'd bet I could get his signature with a phone call.
But you're right about one thing-- it doesn't help to spread wacky internet rumors about employment law.
This is all hypothetical-- I wouldn't care if someone showed up on one of my jobsites with a gun, and I doubt my crews would either notice or care.
So you're right-- we can't change your working conditions unless you let us, or your business agent signs.
We can only change your working conditions if you want to keep your job.
Washington is an at will state. I don't need a reason to fire anyone. I can fire them because I have a headache and they talked too loud. Or I can just fire them, without a reason. Then I can run through the out of work list until I find a crew I like. (Or a crew who signs.)
So there's bargaining, and there's bargaining. I know of a sub-contractor who has all of his crews "volunteer" fifty cents an hour to United Way. No donation, no job. He builds crypts in cemeteries. As construction jobs go, it's a good one. Year in, year out, at the outside scale. He doesn't have a problem getting crews to donate to his pet cause.
In this instance, though, it would be a lot easier to get one signature from a business agent than a signature from everyone on a crew. And given the other conditions that different jobs have imposed, I'd bet I could get his signature with a phone call.
But you're right about one thing-- it doesn't help to spread wacky internet rumors about employment law.
This is all hypothetical-- I wouldn't care if someone showed up on one of my jobsites with a gun, and I doubt my crews would either notice or care.
So you're right-- we can't change your working conditions unless you let us, or your business agent signs.
We can only change your working conditions if you want to keep your job.