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LightCurve Workers Unite

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Frequently Asked Questions

Would having a union be harmful to the company?

First, it’s important to recognize that you and your co-workers are forming this union. Using your union to harm the employer would obviously not be in your best interest and is therefore not something you would do.
Second, the IBEW is by no means anti-employer. It fully recognizes that employers and employees are co-dependent on each other, and when companies prosper it provides opportunities for workers to prosper too.
When employees form unions and engage in collective bargaining, they’re doing so to protect their interests and help assure they’re not trampled on as their employers seek to increase profits.

Why employees want to form a union?

There are several reasons workers join or form unions.

At-Will Employment vs. Working under a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Absent a contract stating otherwise, employees are presumed to be at-will employees. That is, they’re employed at the will of their employer. Their employer unilaterally sets all the terms and conditions of employment, can change them any time it wants and for any reason it wants. An employee’s only choice is “take-it or leave-it.”
By contrast, workers who form unions and negotiate a contract with their employer are employed under the terms and conditions of that contract. The employer cannot change the terms and conditions of the contract without the union agreeing to those changes, and is legally bound to honor that contract. The contract between a union and an employer is commonly referred to as the Collective Bargaining Agreement or CBA.

What would the union put into our contract?

It’s important to understand that workers don’t hire a union, or bring in a union, they join together with their co-workers to form the union. The reason they do this is because it’s the only means workers have to compel their employer to bargain with them in good faith for a written contract. The IBEW has experienced representatives and negotiators to lead the way, but the issues proposed by the union during negotiations are those the workers themselves bring forward. You’re forming a union to accomplish as a group what you can’t as individuals.

Even though LightCurve and IBEW have an existing union contract, what goes into YOUR contract is up to you. The existing contract will provide some basis to build your contract language, but ultimately you all will vote and have a final say on what language applies to you.

What to expect from management. Will the company threaten us during the campaign?

IBEW Local 89 and LightCurve management have entered into a neutrality agreement. Per the terms of the agreement, “The Company will not actively campaign against any such organizing efforts and will not send out targeted communications or hold meetings with employees regarding organizing, unless there are factual inaccuracies in the Union’s campaign.”

This means the company has agreed to let workers make the best decision for themselves without interference. They understand the value that union workers and labor peace bring to the company. Instead of fighting against workers forming a union, LightCurve has agreed to remain neutral.

How do employees get to a union election?

Per the neutrality agreement reached between IBEW Local 89 and the company, no union election is necessary as long a majority (50% +1) of eligible workers sign an authorization card wishing to join the IBEW. These authorization cards are never shown to management but will be shown to a third-party neutral who will validate the interest of workers joining the IBEW per federal requirements.

How much would Union Dues be?

Union dues are voted on by the union’s members and appear in the IBEW’s Constitution and the local union’s By-Laws. Dues to the International Union are voted on by delegates IBEW local unions send to its International Convention held every 5-years. Dues for IBEW local unions are voted on and established by the members of that local and are listed in its By-Laws.

Further, workers in IBEW organizing campaigns don’t pay any dues whatsoever until the election is won, a first contract has been negotiated, and that contract has been voted on and accepted by a majority of the employees in the bargaining unit.

The IBEW also waives initiation fees for new members joining the union as a result of an organizing campaign.

For IBEW Local 89, dues are paid once per month and set at 2 times your hourly rate of pay (overtime and differentials excluded) + $24. So, if you make $20/hr, your dues would be $64 per month.

While nothing is guaranteed, dues are always taken into consideration when bargaining contracts. It does not make financial sense for someone to work under a contract that would have them bring home less money than they did before forming a union.

What do I do next?

You show that you’re onboard by submitting an Authorization Card. These cards are not shown to the employer and remain confidential. They are used for two purposes, (1) to show the IBEW how many people support organizing, and (2) they show the National Labor Relations Board or Third-Party Neutral that there’s enough support to form a union under the terms of the Neutrality Agreement. Authorization Cards can be submitted electronically by clicking on the “JOIN THE IBEW” button.

Tony Ruiz [email protected] 971-204-9376

Justin Roberts [email protected] 503-558-6438