Only 7.2% of private sector companies are unionized in 2010. Why is your company one of them?

I’ll be blunt. Your company stands out, and not in a good way. Private sector unionization is at its lowest level in nearly a century. In fact, being unionized today is weird. Why is your company still union in 2010? It’s usually one of three reasons: 1.  Inertia: you’ve been unionized so long you and your employees have just not considered the alternative; 2.  Poor Training: your supervisors don’t understand how to properly manage a unionized company and they unwittingly make union “protection” seem necessary to employees; 3.  It Doesn’t Hurt Bad Enough: you’ve figured out ways to “work around” the union, despite knowing that your company could perform better without one – and knowing that you’re falling behind more agile non-union competitors.

Classic guide by Francis "Tom" Coleman fully updated.

Any of these sound familiar? If it is inertia or poor training that can be fixed. If it is because it doesn’t hurt bad enough it may be too late. That’s how most unionized companies feel right before they get creamed by some “unforseeable” economic calamity that closes their doors forever (while their customers run into the arms of non-union competitors).

Why not stand out in a good way? Getting rid of a union is good for the bottom line and doesn’t look bad to the “top brass” either. What if you could get rid of your union legally and quickly. Would you want to learn more?

Many of our clients have successfully done just that. Even those who remain unionized have learned to take charge of their bargaining relationship, improving productivity, profitability and employee relationships all at the same time. Sound impossible? We do it every day.

Isn’t it illegal to help employees to get rid of their union?

That is normally the first reaction I get when I talk to unionized companies about our system. Well, I’m a labor attorney and the first rule I teach all our consultants is that we don’t cheat. Nothing we teach our clients is illegal or even close to the line. We teach legal principles you can use today to help:

• Evaluate why your employees continue to choose to remain unionized (yes, it is a choice) and whether getting rid of the union could happen in your company today;
• Map out your company’s employee relations environment and give you a clear game plan for taking charge of your labor situation;
• Analyze your company’s bargaining situation and help you plan and execute an effective, goal-driven negotiation strategy;
• Make sure your managers understand how to stop contract erosion, protect management rights and inform (but not encourage or help) employees about how they can legally decertify a union or deauthorize a union security clause.

Your company may have figured out a way to compete in spite of your union. You may even have what you consider to be a “great” contract. You may always get your way with union leadership. You may think you’ve “figured it out.” I’ve got bad news. You are kidding yourself.

I want you to think about a few quick facts. Unionized companies are less productive, less profitable, and slower to respond to market changes. That’s not my opinion, it is a provable fact. Unionized companies are closing every day because they can no longer effectively compete in a global market.

Is your company next? It doesn’t have to be. Whether you actually are successful at getting rid of your union, the steps you take now to take charge of your labor situation will dramatically improve the chances that your company will survive in our increasingly brutal economic environment.

The best news of all? You can find out whether this strategy fits your company without spending a dime. Discover your gaps during our 30-minute “De-Unionization” Strategy Audit (it’s FREE).

Your De-Unionization Strategy Audit is conducted with myself and Tom Coleman, author of Becoming Union Free. This Strategy Audit is conducted over the phone with you and your key staff. Here is what we accomplish during this fast-paced, no-nonsense session:

• Are Your Employees Ready to Get Rid of the Union? Use our simple test to find out. We explain how to conduct an Opportunity Assessment to evaluate whether a work group is ready and how you can legally figure out exactly who is most likely to “carry the water” (without ever asking or approaching them). Plus we give you a script for talking to employees without fear of legal landmines.
• Dealing with “Toxic” Managers: One or two can tank your plan and give back everything you achieve in bargaining. But you can quickly and easily correct problems – if you avoid this critical misstep. We walk you through our three-step process (which takes literally about six minutes) and show you exactly how to carry this out. Plus…
• New Rules for Bargaining: We’ve helped many clients negotiate tremendous contracts (and sometimes even get rid of the union without a decertification vote) with three specific strategies you can easily implement.

The 30-Minute “De-Unionization” Strategy Audit is not a sales presentation; it consists of the best intelligence we can supply in a thirty-minute time span, honed from nearly 60 years of combined experience from companies who found out the becoming union-free wasn’t as difficult as it once seemed.

Why are we doing these valuable strategy sessions for free?

Tom – an ex-military officer – just retired from law practice and asked if I would help him with one last mission. We believe our manufacturing base (and even the service sector) remain at great economic risk. We feel that every single company we can help free from a union is a company we have saved. It is our personal mission to save as many as we can.

But these calls are limited (after all, I’m not retired and it’s hard to save for the college fund doing free calls all day). Tom and I block out just two days each month for the calls. We can occasionally work in others if those two days aren’t convenient – ask Tammy when you call.

There is no charge for this call, but the call must be strictly limited to 30 minutes. As I’m sure you can imagine, there is quite a demand for these slots and they fill up quick.

To secure a time for this consultation, please call Tammy Swinford at 800-888-9115 and she will advise you regarding available time slots. She will also provide you with a pre-consultation questionnaire (or you can fax back the one on the back of this page) that will prepare us for the call.

With the basic information from this call you will be armed with tools to help take charge of your bargaining situation and perhaps rid your company of the union forever. In today’s tough economic environment, that may even mean the difference between the life or death of your company. Please call Tammy now to make your appointment.

Sincerely,

Phillip B. Wilson

President

Labor Relations Institute

P.S. Remember, spots fill up quick. Make your appointment by calling Tammy today at 1-800-888-9115.