The nature of employment in the graphic communications
industry continues to change dramatically. The pattern of large companies
merging and conglomerates acquiring printing and publishing plants to diversify
their interest has led to a very impersonal relationship between management
and employees.
A labor union is an organization dedicated exclusively to serving and
protecting the rights of employees in the workplace. Unions such as ours
exist because workers organized them. If you think the conditions that exist
today were implemented by the good feelings employers have for their employees,
think again. Workers join and participate in GCC/IBT because they can accomplish more collectively than they can individually.
The Union balances your rights with those of the employer. Without the Union,
the employer does all the talking. With the Union, the employer must sit
down and bargain with you in good faith.
As a result of the increasing distance between management and employees,
workers in the non-union segment of the industry share even less parity
with union workers. In addition to falling further and further behind in
wages and benefits, non-union workers have no industrial democracy,
no justice on the job, no assurance of personal dignity, and no guarantee
that their benefits can't be taken away. They have none of the
guarantees that a union contract provides.
The organized workers in the graphic communications industry understand that collective bargaining does not impose ceilings, but rather opens up new job opportunities. This works to the benefit and well-being of all workers, and ultimately produces a better society for all.
The record is clear -- history confirms the achievements
of the union movement: abolition of child labor, pioneers of paid vacations,
holidays, funeral leave, jury duty pay, insurance coverage, pensions programs,
education programs for workers, better schools, better housing, social security,
Medicare, full and equal opportunities, and the now the push for labor law
reform, environmental issues -- the whole range of needs and aspirations
of the people.
But while the union movement can point with pride to many achievements,
much more needs to be done. It is your job to
educate and organize; to improve conditions
and further the dreams of the workers in the graphic communications
industry.
For more information on the union movement and what you can do, contact us at (415) 334-7783.
What does the Graphic Communications Conference of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (GCC/IBT) offer workers? Click here for an overview of benefits.
Want to read what some members have to say about the benefits of working under a union contract? Check it out.