~ To Unionize or Not To Unionize...That is the Question ~

by Tina~in_ut

We have been waiting IMPATIENTLY for months and months to get to vote on whether or not we will be represented by the union in our Reservations Department. Northwest had the union, actually, they still do, but we never have. Most of us don't want it. We have done nicely without it. Ever since the merger was announced, we have had union representatives standing outside the gate at our office trying to give us information on the union. They are very nice people, but it's a little annoying.

Last Sunday, I was sitting at my computer when my twins asked if anyone was coming over to visit. I told them NO! I had purposely made sure that no one was coming over because I was going to sleep in, not shower or change out of my jammies, and basically do whatever I wanted. It was Tina day. They both said that someone had just arrived. My son was elected to answer the door, but I told him to tell whoever it was that I wasn't home. The next thing I know, he's saying, "Just a minute. Mom!" Oh, I got so mad at him. He whispered to me that they had airline badges on. The very first thing I thought of was that my husbands plane went down, but then I realized that he wasn't traveling until the next day. I couldn't imagine what they wanted.

Surprise! Surprise! Union representatives. On my porch! On a Sunday! They were very nice. They wanted to give me information that they thought I should read very carefully. They wanted to call for a vote. I got excited when I heard that. I even said, "Oh good!" They took it the wrong way and started smiling. They thought I would vote the union in. I corrected them real quick! "Oh, no! I don't want the union. I just want this all over with!" You should have seen their sad little faces. What I couldn't figure out was how they got my address.

At work on Monday , I learned that they have access to all our names (we all work for one company now) and they used those search engines that you pay to find out information. I was wondering because we are unlisted. The little sneaks told other people that Headquarters gave them the addresses. What they didn't bother to explain until pressed was that they meant Union Headquarters! I really wouldn't mind if we were unionized if I could see a benefit to it. As it is now, we get the same things and more and we don't pay monthly dues. We've been getting raises, and those people still under the union aren't getting anything. Our company has worked well with us ever since the day I was hired. I like the way things are, but I don't like sneaky little tactics. And by God.....don't ruin my Tina Sunday!!!!!~