Originally Posted by Opposing View

A company wants to open a foreign operation. Because the workers that will be at that operation are unionized, the company has to negotiate the working rules for those employees.

So, they get together with the reps of the workers and hash out an agreement. The agreement is not very favorable to the workers, but the workers are apathetic and dont think it will affect them, so they vote to accept.

Now the company tries to fill the positions that are needed, but have a very hard time due to the nature of the agreement that was passed. To fill these positions, they have to resort to expensive measures that would not have been needed if the original agreement was good enough for the workers to go to this foreign operation. The company probably has learned that the lowball deal will need to be changed when the next negotiations are scheduled. Also, because of new plans in the works considering new foreign operations, the new agreement has to address those concerns.

So time goes by, and it is time for new negotiations. That company now has offered changes to the foreign deal for the employees that looks pretty good. But, they dont care to negotiate any of the other contractual items, saying that due to upcoming govt rule changes, they would like to wait to change the other items later, but for now just want to come to an agreement on the foreign stuff.

To get this passed the workers, they throw in some ancillary changes along with the changes they want for the foreign rules, hoping that the apathetic workers will bite on the changes due to the small improvements given. The workers agree to the new changes.

Later on, the new govt rules are in effect, and it is time to negotiate concerning those, and all the other items left out of the prior negotiations. Unfortunately for the workers, the company will not budge on many things the workers want changed. In the meantime, because of the prior agreement on the foreign workers, the company is making more money due to these changes, which is what they really needed, and feels no urgency to come to any agreements.

Sound likely, and applicable in our situation? Seriously think about it before you vote. Please.