The Union Member's Complete Guide: Everything You Want -- And Need -- To Know About Working Union (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A practical, well written primer on unions and collective bargaining for union members and potential union members." -- Ray Marshall, former U.S. Secretary of Labor

"This book is a valuable tool for anyone who belongs to a union or is considering joining one." -- David E. Bonior, Democratic Whip, U.S. House of Representatives, 10th District, Michigan

"This book presents a comprehensive and readable account of the basic rights of unions and their members." -- Fred Feinstein, former general counsel, National Labor Relations Board

Everything you need to know about how a union works, and how you can help make your union more successful." -- Jim Hightower, author and commentator

Product Description

The Union Member's Complete Guide: Everything you want -- and need -- to know about working union

An easy-to-read, comprehensive guide to how you can get the most out of your job in a unionized workplace -- from understanding what a union is and how it operates to how you can get the most value out of your union card and what you can do to make your union more successful.

* Understanding how unions operate
* Getting your say in contract demands
* The full story on union dues
* A union's responsibility to its members
* Getting help with workplace problems
* Your union card's bonus benefits
* A member's rights and responsibilities
* Labor laws that affect you
* How to file a grievance
* Your union steward's role
* Contact info for every union

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Union Communication Services (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965948617
• ISBN-13: 978-0965948616
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #161,244 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explaining the Union, February 19, 2002

By	saul schniderman (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

Finally, someone has written a book in plain English that explains just exactly what a union is and how a union operates. The Union Member's Complete Guide by Michael Maurer was written for the average American Joe or Josephine to explain the union experience from the point of view of the member or potential member -- in other words, from the bottom-up.

This is a guide book that describes the basic elements of the union in concise terms. What is the difference between the union and non-union workplace? What are dues and how are they determined? What are the rights and responsibilities of being a union member? What is a union contract? What is a grievance procedure?

Because the union experience is so rarely expressed or defined in this country, there needed to be a book like this that spells it all out. Whether you are already in a union or are thinking of joining one, I heartily recommend this practical guide, complete with glossary, "helpful contacts" and index.

Saul Schniderman
President, Library of Congress Professional Guild
AFSCME 2910

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book to use, April 8, 2002

By	Virginia Ryan (Worcester, MA (USA)) - See all my reviews

I purchased this book and gave it to a friend to read who had problems at work with a recent contract in which she and others were neglected in the pay increases. Michael Mauer's book is written in such an easy and practical style that it gave her the confidence to initiate an unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board which was signed by the others in her department. The ULP was denied because it was not filed within the 6 months time frame but my friend is confident that the union will not forget them in the next contract. Kudos to Mr. Mauer for writing such a practical and useful book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reminded me of some things I've forgotten & even taught me some new stuff!, November 22, 2006

By	Blaine Greenfield "eclectic reader" (Belle Meade, NJ) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I've been active in my teacher's union for over 20 years, but even
with that background, I found THE UNION MEMBER'S COMPLETE
GUIDE by Michael Mauer to be a most worthwhile book to read . . . it
reminded me of some things that I had forgotten and even taught me some
new stuff as well.

Mauer, director of organizing and services for the American Association
of University Professors, really knows his stuff . . . you can tell he has
an extensive union background from reading virtually any page, and
you'll appreciate how he takes almost anything a union member needs
to know (e.g., how to file a grievance) and breaks it down into steps
to follow that are easily understood.

I particularly liked his breakdown on an employee's right to have
a union representative, a situation we too often have to deal with
at my college . . . as he notes, under "Weingarten rights," an employee
has the legal right to have a union representative--but not a
lawyer--present during a meeting with management if all
of the following conditions are met:

1. The meeting is an investigatory interview. This means that
you are expected to answer questions in connection with an inquiry
into possible wrongdoing or unacceptable behavior. Weingarten rights
do not cover meetings where the communication is one-way; that is,
when the purpose is merely to convey information to you or to notify
you of a decision already made regarding discipline.

2. Disciplinary action may result from the meeting. The law requires
only that disciplinary action--of any severity--is one possible result
of the meeting.

3. You "reasonably believe" that disciplinary action may result. If there
is a legal dispute over whether your concern about possible disciplinary
action is "reasonable," the determination will be made based on all the
circumstances surrounding the meeting: Has your supervisor previously
raised the possibility of discipline? Have other employees already been
disciplined for what you're accused of? Are you already working under
the threat of a performance warning letter?

4. You make a request for representation. This is another way Weingarten
rights differ from Miranda rights: your employer generally is under no
obligation to inform you of your right to be represented. It's up to you
to know your rights, and to assert them.

The above is so good that I'm going to copy it and share with
several of our union officers . . . in fact, there's a lot more that is
worth sharing . . . do yourself a favor and get Mauer's book for
any prospective or future member who really wants to understand
what it means to belong to a union.