Joining a Compulsory Union

[Torsten]

@Telpeurion

Thing is, I am in a probationary period for 60 days, (Of course they put the Union deadline 31 days after hiring). During the probation, I can be fired for any reason - any.

I am imagening what I would do, if I was in your place.

I should mention that - as a matter of principle - do not swear oathes at all and have already refused to do so in a court case.

1. Ignore the letter until they remind you - in person - of it.
2. If they remind you, demand that they explain it to you.
3. Prepare yourself well for the explanation sessions
4. During the sessions they explain it to you, hamper on the coercive tactic for joining
5. Get it right that they postpone the sessions
6. Prepare an article on your experience - get personal information on the union activists involved
7. Make it clear that you will not swear an oath and will not join, because of the coercive tactics
8. See, if you keep the job, if not publish your experience as well as the personal details on the union people involved.

Ok, you may need some social support for this. But possibly your experience is worthwhile, since you will be able to write a lengthy article on your first hand experiences on the union.

[JAlanKatz]

@Mark B.

I concur with the other poster, this is NOT a free market. These grocery companies had these unions rammed down their throat, whether they wanted them or not. They are forced by law to bargain with these unions, whether they wanted to or not. And they were forced by law to accept union contracts. This also goes for those employees who wanted no part of the union.

The solution is the total and absolute repeal of the National Labor Relations Act and to allow both companies and employees full freedom to associate or to REFRAIN from associating with unions.

I certainly agree with your conclusion there, but the point at hand is what our original poster should do. His options are

1. Joining the union

2. Working somewhere else

3. Suing

Granting that the employer has already been either actually or theoretically victimized by being forced to deal with the union (it’s possible, although not likely, that he wanted to deal with it anyway) option 3 suggests that he should be victimized again by being dragged to court. In court, either the employer will win and nothing will happen, or the employee will win and the employer, not the union, will owe him damages. I don’t see how either outcome is particularly good for liberty. Regardless of what happens, the government is now more involved, not less, in the running of this company. I still fail to see the good outcome here. Of all the people to turn to for protection from coercion…

[Byzantine]

@JAlanKatz

So, from the fact that the employer is coerced into dealing with a union, we deduce that the employer should also be coerced into employing a particular individual in contradiction to the established workplace rules?

The “established workplace rules” are simply the federal statutes that force the employer to recognize and contract with the union, then the state piles on by outlawing any employment outside the CBA. Unions are government externalities.

[Libertas_est_Veritas]

@Telpeurion

they want me to sign an Oath of Loyalty which contains the nastiest language that completely indicates a socialist bent

Oath of loyalty? I know Finland is basically run by the big unions, but even we don’t have loyalty oaths. Is the union some off-shoot of the Hitler Jugend?

Personally, I’d probably sign it ‘Josef Stalin’ or something and be done with it.

[Superfluous]

No to oaths and no to unions. Don’t submit and see what they do. Make a media story out of it if you must.

[Torsten]

@Superfluous

No to oaths and no to unions. Don’t submit and see what they do. Make a media story out of it if you must.

This has the potential of earning you more money than that job anyway. And it’s going to be lots of fun, if you value that.

“Signing” a document with a phony name, might be funny as well - I sometimes do that, when I’m coerced to abide to entry rules at places. Then it’s usually “Crusty the Clown”.

[MatthewWilliam]

@Telpeurion

I’ll find somewhere else to work. What do you guys think? Should I swallow my pride and submit for a summer job before college?

We seem to all be in agreement…no way!

When I registered for college at the University of Sydney I was kindly asked for my compulsary $604 Student Union Fee. It was my first year and I didn’t stand up to those in charge at the time. I sheepishly paid it. Fortunately for me Compulsary Student Unionism was abolished by the Federal government by the time I began my second year.

[Telpeurion]

Because California is not a state that recognizes free contracting I will be fired without much of a case. Not to mention they mentioned mandatory membership in the Union when I applied. I suppose I will sign just because I very much doubt I will be able to find more work in this area. Union scams, here I come.