Who Makes Decisions if the Union is Recognised

A union is a member-only organisation, as such the union is required to consider members’ views on its stance in negotiations.  Union members also have voting rights to accept or reject negotiated proposals.

If the deal is accepted, it is applied uniformly as a ‘one-size-fits-all’. This means you will have to accept whatever new terms the union negotiated on your pay, hours and holidays. Regardless of your union membership status, the outcome of a negotiated settlement may be of no particular benefit to you or miss the points you care about.  Because of the “give and take” of union negotiations, you could lose some of your current pay and benefits.

Importantly, you have no right to opt-out from the bargaining unit if a union becomes recognised.

In collective bargaining the union will speak on your behalf regarding pay, hours, and holidays. Consider carefully what you want outsourced to a union.

What you need to know

• You are not required to speak with union organisers
• You have the right to refuse to join a union
• You, and only you, can decide whether to join, or not join, a union
• You cannot be threatened or pressured into joining a union
• You can change your mind after joining a union and cancel your membership.

The facts about collective bargaining

Collective bargaining is the process of negotiating pay, hours of work and holidays between an employer and a union. Through collective bargaining, employees may get less than, more than or the same as they have before collective bargaining. If the union is unable to reach agreement through collective bargaining, it can lead to a dispute and potential industrial action.

Unions cannot

• Guarantee an agreement 
• Guarantee higher pay
• Guarantee better benefits
• Guarantee the reinstatement of former policies/practices
• Guarantee hours and schedules
• Guarantee employment
• Prevent layoffs
• Set job standards

In collective bargaining, unions can negotiate and make proposals BUT there are no guarantees on what a union can achieve; it all depends on what the parties actually agree to. 

All union proposals are subject to agreement by the employer.