If unionized, the union becomes your "voice", meaning you won't have the same direct line of communication with Pet Food Experts about your employment. Instead, the union gets the right to make certain decisions about your employment. At Pet Food Experts, your voice should matter—and we now know this hasn't been your experience. We know this needs to change, and it will.
If unionized, certain parts of your job—hours of work, job duties, pay, your concerns or grievances, and benefits—get discussed between the union and Pet Food Experts every few years, when the collective agreement is ending and a new one is negotiated. If you want to make a change, you must go to the union and convince them first. The union has the full legal right not to bring what you want to Pet Food Experts. Unions can decide what is best for the union overall—including not doing what you and your fellow employees want because of how it might affect agreements with other employers they have unionized. You work for Pet Food Experts, not those other employers. That is why it is best when Pet Food Experts and our employees work together to solve problems directly.
The Basics
If unionized, you will no longer be able to address your individual work concerns or terms of employment with your Pet Food Experts leaders directly. Any concerns will have to be addressed through the union, its employees, and its representatives.
You can vote "no" to being unionized even if you sign a union card.
Union Collective Agreements
On average, it takes 6-12 months for a union and employer to reach a first collective agreement.
A union collective agreement assigns union stewards—or shop stewards—who are fellow Pet Food Experts employees. They are the ones responsible for taking issues to management or to the union for all unionized employees. This means that the union can challenge Pet Food Experts management if it works directly with you on any concerns regarding your job, such as your job duties, pay, benefits, hours of work, or other problems.
- A union collective agreement could set your hours and prohibit you from swapping shifts or working with your supervisor when you need schedule flexibility.
- A union collective agreement will prevent you from working directly with your manager to ensure you have the resources to do your job and service the customer.
- Your pay can increase, decrease, or remain the same when a collective agreement is negotiated. It is a gamble because you will pay union dues.
Union Contracts
On average, it takes more than a year for a union and employer to reach a first contract.
In the final agreement, the union might negotiate away current benefits and other terms of employment that matter to you because you are no longer a part of the conversation.
The union lawyers and bargaining committee might have other priorities, and may give up benefits and terms you'd prefer to keep so they can get what they want.
A union contract designates an exclusive representative, often called a union steward, who takes issues to management on behalf of the collective group. This means that it is illegal for Pet Food Experts management to work directly with you on any concerns regarding your job, such as pay, benefits, safety, or other problems. The union can also decide not to pursue your individual concerns or grievances.
A union contract could set your hours and prohibit you from swapping shifts or working with your supervisor when you need schedule flexibility.
Your compensation can increase, decrease, or remain the same when you vote in a union.
How Bargaining a Collective Agreement Works
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Step 1
The union identifies a contact person for the newly unionized employees and issues a demand to bargain with Pet Food Experts.
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Step 2
The union and Pet Food Experts agree to dates and locations for collective bargaining meetings.
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Step 3
Pet Food Experts and the union bargaining committee meet in person or by video. They discuss proposals and counterproposals.
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Step 4
Pet Food Experts and the union bargaining committee try in good faith to reach a tentative agreement on specific terms and conditions of employment for the unionized group. This usually happens over a series of bargaining meetings. The process continues until a good faith agreement is reached on an entire collective agreement—or what is called “impasse”—when the union and Pet Food Experts cannot agree on some topics. An impasse can lead to a union strike or an employer lockout, where Pet Food Experts would tell employees not to come to work.
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Step 5
The proposed collective bargaining agreement may be put to a union-run ratification vote for unionized employees to vote yes or no. There could also be a government-run ratification vote, but these are very rare. Some collective agreements are never voted on by employees. This happens when the Board orders “first contract arbitration” and an arbitrator decides the final agreement's terms instead of the union and Pet Food Experts.
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Step 6
Once a collective agreement is approved by a vote or an arbitrator, the union, Pet Food Experts, and all unionized employees follow that collective agreement for the number of years it applies.