Why employees decertify unions
✅ Ask Us: “Why are employees decertifying their unions?“ sent in by Mikail Lowisen, consultant, New Orleans.
An excerpt from “Anticipate!” ©️written by Thornton Mason.
“There are several reasons why employees are choosing to decertify their unions. Note that decerts take place for many of the same reasons employees chose the union in the first place.
1. Dissatisfaction with union representation: One of the most common reasons employees decertify is because they believe their union representatives are not effectively representing their interests. Employees feel that the union is not negotiating favorable contracts or advocating for their needs in the workplace (particularly sluggish grievance handling).
2. Disagreements over union dues: Some employees decertify their unions because of disagreements over union dues. Employees may feel that the dues they are paying are too high and not worth the benefits they are (not) receiving in return. Or that dues do not remain locally for issues close to home.
3. Changes in the workplace: The inevitability of constant change has also been a dominant factor in decertification. When the workplace undergoes significant change, such as a merger or acquisition, employees often find that their union is no longer relevant or necessary - or that the union is simply not equipped to deal with the new realities of the workplace and remains inflexible, antiquated. What we call “dinosaur thinking.”
4. Political policy differences: In some cases, employees chose to decertify their unions due to ideological differences. They may feel that their union is advocating for policies or causes that they do not agree with and don’t care to support.
5. Lack of trust in union leadership: Diminishing confidence in union leaders also is a factor in recent decertifications. When employees do not trust their union top guns, or feel that their leaders are not acting in their best interests, they rally to decertify their union.”
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