Innercare is telling us a lot about what it means to go union. Here’s the truth about uniting in SEIU-UHW.

 

How much are SEIU-UHW dues?

Dues are 2% of base pay with no dues on overtime pay or shift differentials. We will not pay any dues until we vote to ratify our contract — so we’ll lock in our guaranteed raises before we pay any dues. Dues cannot be raised without a vote by all union members. The Initiation Fee is waived for workers in newly organized units who sign a Membership Application on or before the date the first contract is ratified.

 

Innercare management may say that joining SEIU-UHW means you’ll immediately start paying union dues. Is that true?

No. SEIU-UHW members at Innercare are NOT paying union dues — and they will NOT do so until they vote to ratify a contract that locks in guaranteed raises.

 

Will I lose flexibility after going union?

Innercare might use anti-union scare tactics to say that we’ll lose flexibility — and it’s simply not true. When we unite in SEIU-UHW, WE are the union. That means we’ll still have the right to speak directly to our employer about workplace issues like scheduling, staffing, and workloads.

 

Innercare may say that if we go union my manager can’t change my schedule after it’s posted. Is that true?

No. A union contract protects you from unwanted changes to your schedule. You can still work with management directly on individual scheduling issues.

 

Will we have to go on strike if we go union?

Employers like Innercare often try to scare workers about strikes. The fact is that strikes are very rare — and they can be an incredibly powerful tool to winning a strong contract. Just look at the recent strike of SEIU-UHW members at Kaiser. That strike led to a contract with 21% raises over four years, the protection of fully employer-paid family healthcare coverage and pensions, major improvements to staffing, strong job security protections, and more. And remember, strikes only happen if a majority of union members in the bargaining unit vote for one.

 

Innercare may say that if we go union, we’re not allowed to receive raises during contract bargaining. Is that true?

No. Innercare can issue pay raises during bargaining. The only reason you wouldn’t receive raises during bargaining is if Innercare refuses to pay them — and uses the union as their excuse. If Innercare is so eager to give us raises, let’s lock them in as guarantees in a union contract.

 

Is Innercare legally allowed to cut our wages or benefits before we win our union and bargain our contract?

Management cannot cut our wages or benefits to retaliate against us for forming our union. If anyone from Innercare management threatens you for unionizing, report the incident to a member of our SEIU-UHW Organizing Committee right away.