| QUESTIONS DEALING WITH MEMBERSHIP
Q: DO SPFPA MEMBERS HAVE THEIR OWN LOCAL UNIONS?
A: YES, ALL SPFPA MEMBERS HAVE THEIR OWN LOCAL UNION, ELECT THEIR OWN OFFICERS, COMMITTEE PERSONS AND STEWARDS, AND CONTROL THEIR OWN TREASURY.
Q: WHO DECIDES WHAT WE WILL REQUEST FROM MANAGEMENT IN WAGE INCREASES AND OTHER CONTRACT BENEFITS?
A: YOU WILL DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT IN YOUR CONTRACT AT MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS CALLED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
Q: CAN MANAGEMENT TAKE AWAY ANY BENEFITS WE NOW HAVE IF WE JOIN A UNION OR VOTE FOR THE UNION TO REPRESENT US?
A: NO. THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD HAS RULED THAT IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR A COMPANY TO EVEN TELL EMPLOYEES THAT THEY WOULD LOSE BENEFITS IF THEY VOTED FOR A UNION. (FIRESTONE SYNTHETIC FIBERS COMPANY 157 NLRB No.17)
ANOTHER CASE INVOLVES THE KROGER CO. WHERE THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS IN CINCINNATI, OHIO, HELD THAT A COMPANY MAY NOT TAKE BENEFITS AWAY FROM EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY SELECT A UNION OF THEIR CHOICE.
Q: WHO MEETS WITH MANAGEMENT TO NEGOTIATE OUR WAGES AND OTHER CONTRACT BENEFITS?
A: YOU SELECT AND/OR ELECT YOUR OWN COMMITTEE TO NEGOTIATE YOUR CONTRACT. A REPRESENTATIVE ASSIGNED BY THE INTERNATIONAL UNION SPFPA, EXPERIENCED IN SUCH MATTERS WILL ASSIST YOU.
Q: DOES THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE HAVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE A FINAL SETTLEMENT WITH MANAGEMENT WITHOUT APPROVAL OF THE MEMBERSHIP?
A: NO. IN THE SPFPA BEFORE ANY SETTLEMENT BECOMES FINAL, IT MUST BE PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERSHIP FOR THEIR ACCEPTANCE OR REJECTION. THE PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN MANAGEMENT, AND THE SPFPA WILL ONLY BE DISCUSSED ON THE DAY THAT A MEETING IS SETUP FOR THE RATIFICATION VOTE. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BE PRESENTED AND DISCUSSED, AND VOTED ON, ACCORDING TO THE BY-LAWS OF THIS INTERNATIONAL UNION.
IF YOU, ALONG WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERSHIP, VOTE TO ACCEPT A CONTRACT, ONLY THEN CAN SUCH A CONTRACT BECOME EFFECTIVE.
Q: CAN THE UNION CALL A STRIKE AT ANY TIME?
A: NO. WHEN BOTH SIDES REACH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT, THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IS PRESENTED TO THE MEMBERS FOR A VOTE AT A MEETING CALLED FOR THIS PURPOSE. IF THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT IS REJECTED (VOTED DOWN), IN WHOLE OR IN PART, THIS REJECTION GIVES THE LOCAL UNION AND THE INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY TO CALL A STRIKE, ACCORDING TO THE BY-LAWS OF THIS INTERNATIONAL UNION.
Q: CAN THE LOCAL UNION END A STRIKE?
A: YES. THE SAME UNIT THAT VOTED TO GO ON STRIKE HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO END A STRIKE.
Q: ARE STRIKES THE MAJOR CAUSE OF LOST TIME?
A: NO. IN 1946, A YEAR WHEN THE GREATEST NUMBER OF STRIKES TOOK PLACE, ONLY ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT OF TOTAL HOURS LOST WERE THE RESULTS OF STRIKES. SICKNESS, ACCIDENTS AND UNEMPLOYMENT ARE THE RESULTS OF MORE LOST HOURS THAN ANY STRIKES. AS A MATTER OF FACT, MORE THAN 7% OF THE TOTAL WORK FORCE IS BEING LOST AS A RESULT OF UNEMPLOYMENT.
Q: HOW MUCH ARE THE DUES IN THE SPFPA?
A: THE DUES IN THE SPFPA ARE TWO (2.5) AND ONE-HALF HOURS PAY PER MONTH.
Q:CAN THE UNION RAISE THE DUES AT ANY TIME?
A: NO. UNION DUES CAN ONLY BE RAISED IF YOU VOTE TO RAISE DUES AT A MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF YOUR LOCAL OR BY YOUR DELEGATES FROM YOUR FACILITY OR LOCAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL UNION CONVENTION.
Q:ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IN ADDITION TO DUES IN THE SPFPA?
A:NO. THE SPFPA CONSTITUTION DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR COLLECTING ANY SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.
Q:WHEN WILL I BE REQUIRED TO PAY UNION DUES?
A:IT IS THE "POLICY" OF THE SPFPA NOT TO REQUIRE PAYMENT OF ANY DUES UNTIL AFTER A CONTRACT HAS BEEN NEGOTIATED AND ACCEPTED BY THE EMPLOYEES.
Q:HOW MUCH IS THE INITIATION FEE IN THE SPFPA?
A:THE INITIATION FEE IS A MINIMUM OF $20.00 AND A MAXIMUM OF $50.00
Q:IN WHAT WAY DOES THE SPFPA HELP ITS MEMBERS AND OTHER WORKING PEOPLE?
A:THE SPFPA USES ITS RESOURCES IN A CONTINUOUS FIGHT TO IMPROVE THE LIVING STANDARDS OF THE COMMON PEOPLE.
Q: WHAT ARE THE DUES USED FOR THAT GO TO THE LOCAL?
A: 60% OF THE DUES THE LOCAL RECEIVES GOES TO THE OUR INTERNATIONAL, 40% GOES TO THE LOCAL. OF THE 40%, DUES ARE SPENT ON NECESSARY UNION EXPENSES. CLICK BELOW FOR A FULL EXPLANATION OF NECASSARY EXPENSES.
DUES EXPLANATION
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