Our boss said we didn't need a Union:What will yours say?

We are organizing to make our jobs better, and some workers at other companies have already organized and can tell us what to expect from our employer during the organizing campaign.

Check out CWA’s interactive Play See N Say to find out what the boss says.

Not every employer uses exactly the same tricks to keep workers from using their democratic right to have collective bargaining.  But there is a script – a pattern –that most employers follow.

When workers organize, most employers will:

• Tell you that the union consists of outsiders.
• Make empty threats and promises.
• Tell lies about the union.
• Start floating rumors to discourage you.
• Refuse to have an open, honest debate so you can hear the truth.

When we start talking about unions and collective bargaining, Lab management will probably try to confuse us by making us forget that we are the union.

While SPSE-UPTE is part of CWA, Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, all decisions about running our union and negotiating with management are made by us.  We set our own priorities, we decide what is important to us.  We are not an outside organization trying to take over, rather we are Lab employees who believe we can have a say in our workplace. To succeed we need you to sign the authorization card.

More information on our union is available at What is SPSE-UPTE.

Margie Altenbach, Administrative Specialist within LLNL, SPSE-UPTE Board Member.

"Passionate about justice, equality, and fair business practices."