UNION GUARANTEES

1. As soon as the election is won, the Union guarantees that it will provide a legal representative, if requested, as a witness to any discussion with management that may lead to discipline or termination. (Your legal “Weingarten Rights.”)

2. The Union guarantees it will not ask you to pay one penny in dues until it fights to win you a contract that you must approve by secret ballot. We also guarantee that you are smart enough not to vote for that contract unless it contains better wages, better benefits, better rules governing work standards, legal protection if you are unfairly disciplined or terminated, pro-rated benefits for part-timers, and many more advantages that will make the dues very worthwhile. If the final contract offer from the company is the same or less than what the employees presently have, the Union guarantees it will ask the employees to vote no.

3. The Union guarantees it will not ask you to vote for a strike. According to the government, 98 percent of all union negotiations are settled without a strike. Teamsters Local 445 specializes in peaceful yet effective strategies

4. The Union guarantees that anyone who signs up for the Union Contract Committee will receive full legal backing from the Union before the National Labor Relations Board if they experience any discrimination.

5. The Union guarantees that it will never ask for a dues increase or any extra money without following the legal process, which requires that the proposal be presented to the members over a six-month period, and then approved by membership vote.

6. The Union guarantees that you will elect your Shop Stewards and Contract Representatives, democratically determine your contract proposals, and vote by secret ballot to accept or reject your contract, and in November 2008 vote to elect all Union officials.

7. The Union guarantees that, once the election is won, it will work professionally and courteously with company officials to insure that work runs smoothly yet fairly.

8. Once the contract is approved, the Union guarantees that it will provide professional legal representation to any employee who faces unfair discipline or termination. (The law allows for employees to sue any union that does not provide such representation.)

9. The Union guarantees that all members will be eligible for the International Teamsters Union Privilege Program, which offers discounted car, house, life and legal protection and more.