Addressing common concerns
MBAWU organizers created this page to address common concerns that we have heard throughout our ongoing conversations, socials, and town halls.
Here we will present common concerns in quotations, followed by information that addresses that concern or corrects it if it is incorrect. This tab will be continuously updated.
Common concern: “I love/like the relationship I have with my management team, I don’t want to have to go through the union to have conversations with them and change that dynamic”
Response: MBAWU is there to be a resource not a barrier or a hurdle. If you are currently happy with your relationship with your leadership then there is no reason for the MBAWU to get involved. It is important to understand that your MBAWU representative will not step in unless you go to them or need them. MBAWU will be a resource not an additional supervisor.
For example, Cristie is part of the CFA at CSUMB and has a great relationship with her direct supervisor/Dean who she talks to weekly. She has never had to rely on her union representative and has never had to formally use her union representative in the 6 years she has been there.
“I have heard that when workplaces unionize they lose volunteers because unions don’t allow volunteers”
This is absolutely not true. There are plenty of aquariums and zoos who have organized, unionized and have thriving volunteer programs.
It is also important to mention that the volunteer program is run by the Aquarium, and any decision-making about the volunteer program will always remain with the Aquarium.
Unionizing does not mean that we are unable to have volunteers. However, a union protects your job/role from being turned into a volunteer position. Meaning that current staff cannot be replaced by volunteers.
Examples of unionized zoos and aquariums who have volunteers/internship programs - Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Happy Hollow, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Oregon Coast Aquarium, Oregon Zoo, Pt. Defiance Aquarium, and Columbus Zoo and Aquarium to name a few.
“As remote workers we face different problems and concerns such as uncertainty around return to office mandates, area based pay, and regional healthcare benefits, etc. Will we be able to negotiate for these items in our contracts?”
Yes, you will be able to negotiate for all those items, and create transparency and clarity around those issues/concerns.
Once the union wins the election, there will be surveys and listening sessions to gather input on priorities for negotiating the contract. Furthermore, MBAWU intends to form a hybrid remote/in-person bargaining team so that remote workers are actively included in the bargaining process.
"General concerns around employee/MBAWUjeopardizing MBA finances"
An investment into the employees at MBA is an investment in our mission’s success. When employees’ needs are met, when employees aren’t worrying about rent, food costs, and other basic needs we have more bandwidth to focus on innovative, creative and courageous ways to continue driving the aquarium’s mission forward.
When looking at the financial status of MBA we should not have a scarcity mindset.
Check out the Aquarium's financial summary here.
MBAWU would not jeopardize the financial stability of the aquarium, because that would directly affect the stability and security of our colleagues.
“Howwill departments that aren’t eligible be affected by the union”
Ineligible departments and staff will also benefit from our negotiations. The “FACT SHEET: Treasury Department Releases First-Of-Its-Kind Report on Benefits of Unions to the U.S. Economy” explains that unionization has spillover effects that result in higher pay and more stability for nonunion employees. For example, when MBAWU negotiates for better pay it is extremely likely that middle managers and ineligible departments like Security will also get an increase to offset or match the difference that union employees receive. Remember that unions create a rising tide that lifts all boats.
“How will a union affect our ability to do overtime?”
That will depend on what we want to negotiate for and can vary by department. We can negotiate for:
- Overtime pay rates
- What overtime looks like when staff are on collection trips
- On-call pay
- Overnight pay rates
“I am looking to move into a management position in the future, I have heard that a union will make it harder/less likely for me to become a manager”
Actually it’s the reverse.
Through collective bargaining agreements unionized workplaces can include in their contracts provisions requiring internal job postings for open position. This practice is intended to create employee advancement providing current employees with opportunities for career advancement within the company.
"I don't feel comfortable having a third party negotiating on my behalf"
MBAWU is not a third party, MBAWU is a group of your friends and collegueages coming together as one voice. Organizing a union is, unfortunately, an extremely complicated process and AFSCME is helping us navigate that system and make sure that we are crossing our Ts and dotting our Is.