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Originally Posted by AlexT
Anyone out there have any experience with difficult unions? Most of my clients are union free due to their size and workforce so I am a bit out of my depth here. I have been asked to attend a meeting with the union on behalf of the employer and with their management team to discuss classifications, wages and other conditions. My client has only 80 staff of which the manufacturing staff are the ones being targeted - I think there are about 40 of them. This union has been putting pressure on the organisation for two weeks, standing out the front of their premises each morning at 7.30am as workers arrive, holding two meetings at lunch times in the factory and not letting the factory manager sit in on the meeting - in fact swearing at him to get out! Now they want a meeting with management. Any tips, advice, strategies would be very welcome.
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Is there any particular gripe they have - because it sounds like there is some major issue at hand?
I find in our workplace that the unions have "toned down" a lot as they also realise the difficult position companies are in financially. As such that have gone from "bullying" tactics much more to intensive negotiations.
As with any neogtiation, they will come in with more demands than they expect to get - and expect to be met "halfway" or thereabouts.
Make sure you understand what the business is able to offer - and these may be "left field" or unrelated. Remember that something of relatively low value to the business may be of high value to the employees.
However, before all that, I'd try to underdstand what the main issue is/has been that has made the union(s) a bit antsy.
Cheers,
The Y-man
