Berkeley Bowl, Inc. Anti-Union Flier to Employees

*Warning the following is full of anti-union distortions*

Little Card/Big Trouble
Are You Being Pressured to Sign a Union Card?

The United Food and Commercial Workers are trying to get Berkeley Bowl employees to sign union cards. We are not surprised by this. The UFCW always needs more dues-paying members to support its union. The question is, do you want to pay union dues to the UFCW when they can't guarantee you anything in return? Before you even consider(emphasis on consider)signing a card, make sure you know all the facts. Be careful. Paid Union organizers will say anything(emphasis on anything)to get you to sign a card. Remember the following:

1. Union cards are binding legal documents. Contrary to what the paid union organizer will tell you, signing a card means you authorize the union to represent you in all matters affecting your pay, benefits, and working conditions. With a union, you lose your right to speak on your behalf.

2. Don't believe someone who tells you signing a card is "just for information". This is a misleading statement. READ THE CARD CAREFULLY. The legal words on the card make it clear that you may be signing your rights away. Think about it: if the card was "just for information," why would you have to sign your name? If they really want you to have information, the union can just give it to you without a signature on a binding legal document.

3. Union promises are NOT guarantees. Anyone can make big promises about more money and benefits. The fact is the UFCW cannot guarantee any of those things. The only thing they can guarantee is that you will have to pay dues to them. Even if the UFCW got in here, the Company would not have to agree to any union demands. And we would not agree to any union demands that are not in the best interest of theCompany.

4. If the Union can't get the Company to agree to its demands, the union may decide to take you out on strike. And if the UFCW took you out on strike, your pay would stop, the Company would stop paying health insurance premiums, and you could be permanently replaced.

5. Once you sign a card, it is almost impossible to get it back. That's why you shouldn' t sign anything(emphasis)until you are certain you want to pay the union your hard earned money and face the possibility of a strike.

DON'T SIGN THE CARD UNTIL YOU KNOW ALL THE FACTS