Contract Negotiations: It’s About More Than Who Is On The Committee

While skilled negotiators and strong Stewards on the bargaining committee are extremely important, the best negotiators and strongest Stewards in the world can’t get a good contract if UFCW 227 has no bargaining power.

Everything UFCW 227 does relies on united and active members, which is why signing up new members is critical to our success at the negotiating table. For tips on signing up new members, click here. Employers are influenced by the level of unity among our membership, but there are other factors outside the workplace that determine UFCW 227’s bargaining power.

Non-union competitors: When competitors are able to pay lower wages because they are non-union, our companies argue they need to “level the playing field”. This is why it is so important that Stewards are actively trying to help organize other workers in their industry.

Political activism: We work hard and must continue to work to elect people who will pass better labor laws and help put pressure on our companies to do the right thing when it comes to their workers. By signing up for the Active Ballot Club, Stewards and members can help with these efforts.

Percent of local workers organized: Companies compare what they pay to what other companies pay in our area. If our neighbors are non-union and get lower wages the company will argue that they shouldn’t pay more. This is why it is important to support other unions in their organizing efforts too.

Ability to strike and win: We hope to avoid strikes, but they still remain a key source of bargaining power. If an employer can still continue to operate, either by hiring scabs or when our members cross the picket line, strikes lose their power. Some employers plan for a strike because they think they will save more money by resisting the members proposals.

State of the company: It is harder to win gains from an employer that is not doing well, however, even employers who are profitting will ask for concessions.

Community support: Sometimes we ask our customers or communities not to buy a product or shop at a store. We also ask other community groups for their support to put pressure on our employers to do the right thing.

Employers who operate both union and non-union: When employers have non-union employees they may still be able to operate during a strike.