How We Help
How The Special and Superior Officers Benevolent Association Helps Its Members
What is a Union?
A Union is a group of workers that are seeking to better their lives by:
- Negotiating better wages and benefits.
- Negotiating more flexibility on the job for family needs.
- Demanding respect from their Employer.
- A counter-balance to the unchecked power of the Employers and;
- A voice in improving the quality of their products and services.
How do I join a Union?
When workers decide they want to come together to improve their jobs, they contact a Union to help guide their organizing efforts to become members. Once a majority of workers show they want a Union, the Employer will sometimes recognize the Union honoring the employee's choice. Often workers must request the Union to file for an election with the National Labor Relations Board where the election will be run by the Government. If the workers win their Union they will negotiate a contract that will spell out each parties rights and responsibilities in the workplace.
What types of workers are seeking Union membership?
A wider range of people are seeking Union representation more than ever before. Security Officers, building employees, doctors, nurses, health care workers, wireless communication workers, engineers and auto part workers to name a few.
Does the Law protect workers joining a Union?
Yes. Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act gives you the right to organize without the fear of your Employer trying to intimidate you in giving up this right. For example, an Employer cannot threaten to close a business or lay-off people because they seek Union representation.
What have Unions accomplished for all workers?
Unions have made life better for all working Americans by helping to pass laws ending child labor, establishing the eight hour work day, protecting workers safety and health and helping to create Social Security and unemployment benefits. The average Union worker earns 4.5% more in wages that non-union employees. She chart below for a comparison between union and non-union:
Concerns of the employee:
Union versus Non-Union
Concerns
Union
Non-Union
Dignity, Rights and Respect
Must be given at all times
Only given if you're liked
Wages and other compensation
Spelled out in contract
Privately negotiated by management
Raises
Will be negotiated for everyone
Favoritism will decide this
Discipline/dismissal
You have the grievance process
You're on your own
Problems on the job?
The Union will be your voice
What management wants
Seniority rights
Guaranteed by Contract
Rights do not exist
Policies
Remain Consistent
Forever changing
A voice in the political arena
Work for laws that protect employees and their families
Take away and weaken laws
Why is the Special and Superior Officers Benevolent Association best for me?
The Special and Superior Officers Benevolent Association is a certified 9(b) 3 Union. This means that we specialize in the Security field; our Union members are strictly Security personnel. This said, we will give the best service in the industry to our members.
The 9(b) 3 law reads as follows:
Sec. 9 [ ยง 159.]
(b) [Determination of bargaining unit by Board] (3) decide that any union is appropriate for such purposes if it includes, together with other employees, any individual employed as a guard to enforce against employees and other persons rules to protect property of the employer or to protect the safety of persons in the employer's premises; but no labor organization shall be certified as the representative of employees in a bargaining unit of guards if such organization admits to membership, or is affiliated directly or indirectly with an organization which admits to membership, employees other than guards.
Click here for the full National Labor Relations Act