When I am talking with people who are interested in one of our union programs, I often ask them this question:

"What do you know about unions?"

It's an honest question and I ask it because I want to know where to start our conversation. I've come to learn that most people's answer goes something like this:

"Well, the union is there to protect you. And they make sure that you get good wages and benefits"

While this is very true, it only scratches the surface of what a union truly is. Most importantly, it misses the point that the union is not separate from its members. The union is the members! And when you join the union, you become part of the union. And as a part of the union, you have a voice in its operations and policies. You get to be part of the process of determining the terms and conditions of your employment. You get a say in who leads your union and in what direction it goes.

So many people see the union as a separate entity. A union in its purest form is one of the most democratic institutions in America. The leadership, elected by the members, carries out the day to day operations of the union. Regular monthly membership meetings and monthly executive board meetings chart the course for the leadership to follow. When agreements are due for negotiation, the leadership takes the wishes of the membership to the bargaining table. And when they come away with the results, the members have the option to accept or deny them. So as you will come to understand, a union is not an entity separate from its members. It is the members.

<<BACK NEXT>>