Union Busting
Most companies hire lawyers/anti-union consultants and engage in union-busting activities. Some are legal. Some are not. I would like everyone to be informed so we know what to expect and can be prepared. When we got hired, Kohl’s showed us an anti-union video during orientation. Back in April, Kohl’s showed us another anti-union video. Let’s use common sense…
- UNIONS COLLECT DUES - Union dues are actually $0 until a majority votes to accept the contract. If we successfully negotiate for a $5 raise, then full timers will earn an additional $10,000 per year. And union dues would only be about $70 per month or $840 per year. Simple math.
- UNIONS ARE DECLINING - Yes, union membership has declined. Back in the 1950s about 33% of Americans belonged to a union. Today about 10% are in a union. Back then a family could afford a house on 1 income. Today many families are still struggling on 2 incomes. Many people are working 2nd jobs. Back then the CEO to employee ratio was 20:1 but today its close to 300:1. And for Kohl's it is 725:1. This is the result of declining union membership.
- UNIONS TAKE AWAY YOUR VOICE - Right now our individual voice is meaningless. Maybe we can talk to leadership and say we need more engagement events, and they'll add a couple extra days of food throughout the year. But for anything important, like wages, our voice means nothing. We need a union so we can collectively bargain for better wages. A $5/hr increase would only cost about $5 million per year. Kohl's can afford it.
- UNIONS DON'T WANT YOU TO BE EDUCATED - During the video they showed us, it said unions don't want us to be educated and they only want our signature... I made this website and created a video because I want us educated.
- UNIONS CAN'T GUARANTEE ANYTHING - True. But if we do nothing, I can guarantee that nothing will improve. Ask veteran employees. Kohl's has taken things away over the years... Took away premium pay on weekends, less problem solvers, less supervisors, less peak benefits... A union gives us the opportunity to create change. Kohl's has been spending an average of $687 million per year to benefit shareholders. It's time they invest into us, the actual workers.