Understanding your rights as an employee is an important part of the unionization process. You have the right to be unionized, but you also have the right to not sign a union card, and to vote no—to speak out against being unionized.
Paying Your Money to the Union
If the union reaches a collective agreement with Pet Food Experts (through an arbitrator or unionized employee vote), we must regularly take money from your pay and send it to the union. Union dues and fees will be a condition of you being able to keep working for Pet Food Experts. This means that you will lose your job if you do not pay union dues. Even if you choose not to join the union and become a union member, you are required to pay union dues.
Unions can change their regular dues. They can require initiation fees and other fees sometimes called “special assessments.” All of them must be paid to keep your job with Pet Food Experts if unionized.
We believe union dues might amount to $1,500 or more a year for each of our drivers.
Collective Union Activities, Like Strikes
Prior to being unionized, there is no risk of strikes if you disagree with them. If unionized, employees could be fined or disciplined by the union for failing to strike or engage in collective activity, such as a union requirement to not work overtime.
The union must win a strike vote of unionized employees to call for a strike—they cannot unilaterally require employees to go on strike. Unions are very good at getting employees to vote for a strike. But once they have a majority yes vote for a strike, the union controls when they take you out on strike and how long the strike lasts.
Under federal labor law, you will not be able to work for us even if you wanted to if a strike is called.
Collaboration with
Pet Food Experts vs. the Union
When you opt to work directly with Pet Food Experts instead of with a union, you have a direct line of communication to Pet Food Experts management to discuss working conditions, your terms of employment, or any other concerns you may have.
If unionized, you will be forced to work through a union representative who may not have your individual best interest in mind. Plus, all communication is depersonalized and decisions are focused on the collective group, not your individual needs or unique circumstances.
Today, without a union, you can collaborate directly with your manager and Pet Food Experts leadership to make your work environment the best it can be for you and your needs based on Pet Food Experts policies, serving our customers, and working with our suppliers and other Pet Food Experts employees. You can help the company evolve by bringing your valuable voice and contributions to the table.