THE HEART OF THE WISCONSIN PROTEST

American unions have been in the news a lot in the last few days. There have been protests in Wisconsin, rallies and marches in Iowa and Ohio. Many in this country don’t understand the issues behind the headlines. Some are even openly opposed to unions. A lot of words are used in the conversations surrounding the labor movement. Words like; collective bargaining, negotiations, workers rights and workplace rules. As a union member I would like talk about what the union means to me and add another word to the discussion; representation. This word, representation, and what it means to the rank and file union member is at the heart of what the union is. The union is our representation in the employee-employer relationship.
To start, the employee-employer relationship is a business contract not unlike any other business contract. Almost every aspect of business is governed by some form of contract. Real estate is bought and sold through contracts. Commodities such as oil, corn, wheat, and natural gas are all bought and sold by a contract. For union members a contract also governs and sets conditions of employment. The people who manage the companies that most of us work for also have contracts. These contracts set the conditions of employment and compensation, such as stock options and golden parachutes. Even professional athletes work under contract. To the union member it only seem logical that we to should have our employment governed by contract. A contract sets out clearly what is agreed upon and what is expected of both parties. The contract I work under doesn’t just place requirements on my employer, but also sets out what is required of me. The contract is there to keeps both parties honest. Without a contract the worker is nothing more than a wage slave.
Now when companies enter into any contract they call their “people”. These people may be lawyers, accountants, risk analyst, or human resource professionals. The leaders of the modern corporation will call any representation they feel they need to represent their interests in entering or implementing a contract. There is that word again, representation. The captains of industry would never give up their right to be represented in any business deal they enter. They would never give up the right to consult lawyers, accountants or anyone else they felt they needed to help them get what they want in a business deal. This is the heart of what the union means to labor. They are our “people”. The union represents us in our business dealings with management. They act as our lawyers and accountants in the negotiating and implementation of our contract.
With a basic understanding of what unions are and how important contracts are to , it’s easy to see why management doesn’t like unions. Anyone would want to negotiate with an advantage. Anyone would like to be able to change the conditions of a contract they are in without interference. I would love to change the terms of my mortgage, but I think the bank would have something to say about that. Many businesses have been lost because the owners have entered contracts that have had terms turn against them. Everyone at the Chicago Board of Trade has at least one contract they would like to take back. But this is not how business is done. A contract is a contract, signer beware. So why do CEOs and corporate management “cry foul” when they are held to a labor contract?
When the worker enters a business agreement with an employer it is always best if that agreement is under a contract. This is how business is done, with both parties in understanding and agreement. To enter employment without a contract puts the worker at a huge disadvantage. It is a fundamental right to have representation whether you are negotiating a contract to play in the NFL or drive a snowplow in Wisconsin. The right of representation is always retained by management; it should always be retained by labor. Any attempt to deny labor the right of representation is nothing more than an attempt to gain an unfair advantage in a business contract.