MEETING MINUTES – October 9th, 2002

Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Association held on Wednesday, October 9th, 2002, at the Best Western on Smokey Park Highway.  Should you have any questions, comments or corrections, please contact Bridget Downey, PHR, our Chapter Secretary.

BUSINESS MEETING: 

Announcements:
The meeting was opened by President Terry Clark, SPHR, who congratulated Kaye Waugh for revitalizing the Student SHRM Chapter.

The Deadline for submitting Scholarship Applications is November 15.  Because eligible students are taking graduate-level courses, only 3 credit hours per semester are needed to qualify. 

The December meeting will feature representatives from the SHRM State Council, who will swear in our new officers.

October Program Highlights:

Susan Thompson introduced Mike Bishop, a senior labor lawyer at Edwards, Ballard, Bishop, Sturm, Clark and Keim, P.A. to present a program on Union Avoidance & Recent Union Activity.

Mr. Bishop noted that during 2001, 2378 NLRB elections were held, a decline of nearly 500 from the 2000 level of 2869.  The win rate for these elections, however, has increased to 55.1%.  The Teamsters Union was the most active.  Most active states were CA, NY, IL, PA, & NJ.  There were 20 elections in NC and 12 in SC.

Mr. Bishop worked for the NLRB in Tampa in the 1980s, and is very familiar with union operations.  The current trend is to focus on smaller companies, where the success rate in elections is greater.  As a company's size increases, the likelihood of a union election prevailing decreases.

We are seeing a new generation of union organizers.  They are receiving exhaustive training on how to organize, and are presenting union campaigns as a mission, a movement to ensure civil rights.

One thing remains constant: Union campaigns are not driven by wages or benefits.  They are driven by treatment issues, specifically employee respect.

The key to remaining union-free is management's ability to build relationships.  Employees who believe their managers and supervisors care about them are not likely to vote in a union.  Each of us should ask ourselves, "What have I done today to convince my employees that I care about them?"  Most employees don't like the idea of joining a union, and will not vote for one without extreme dissatisfaction.

Unions are becoming increasingly sophisticated.  They now have web sites, with training on "How to Organize". 

One feature of a union contract to avoid is the Neutrality Clause.  This states that management will not use any persuasion to discourage union participation at other sites. 

An increasingly common union tactic is the Blitz Campaign.  It takes place in a relatively short period of time - usually 5-7 days.  Organizers meet with employees in their homes.  They have a large staff, with about one organizer per 5 employees.  The entire campaign is over and done with before management even knows about it.  This is effective because supervisors are bribed for the names and addresses of employees.  As HR professionals, it is imperative that we keep this information private. 

A common tactic, especially in the construction industry is for unions to plant one of their employees within the company.  This person has a dual allegiance.  It is unlawful to fire such a person because of his/her union affiliation.  It is, however, possible to terminate someone who did not put this union position on the employment application - if you have a strong and consistent policy prohibiting falsification.

Several years ago Food Lion was investigated and harassed to encourage them to allow unionization.  Corporate theft, greed, and recent problems that have come to light are being used by unions to influence employees.

Union presence is growing in service industries.  Recent successful union campaigns have included Student Teachers at Columbia, Resident Assistants in college dorms, Nursing Home Employees, Hospitals, Janitors, Physicians, and Dentists.

Mr. Bishop left us with one final remark:  "Companies get the unions they deserve."

Guests and New Members were welcomed during the Roundtable.

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.