Your Union contract is one of the most valuable assets a worker can have. A con-tract gives workers legal power and protection under the law by providing such protections as “just cause” and representation in discipline and discharge meet-ings. There are four mandatory bargaining areas in a contract:

1. Wages
2. Workplace Rules
3. Workplace Conditions
4. Benefits

Each Union Contract is tailored made for the workers it represents. Contracts are negotiated by the workers themselves and professional Union Representatives to ensure the contract fully represents and meets the needs or desires of the workers it covers. The workers, or bar-gaining unit, then vote to ratify the agreement.

Wages: Without a Union contract, workers are often forced to work for substandard wages and may go years without a wage increase. With a Union contract, you’re able to guarantee in writing what your wages will be and when they will increase.

Workplace Rules: Workers can negotiate rules and protections ending such workplace issues as favoritism and create new rules protecting advancement to full time, guaranteed hours, and many other issues faced by today’s workforce.

Workplace Conditions: Contracts can ensure you are working around safe equipment as well as provide proper staffing, work breaks and relief time to ensure a safe work environment.

Benefits: With a contract, you have a voice determining valuable workplace benefits like sick leave, vacation, healthcare, holidays and many other benefits you will have the right to negotiate.

With all the contracts workers sign for mortgages, cars, rental or lease agreements … even something as simple as renting a movie often requires a contract … all workers deserve to have a contract protecting them at work!