Is Your Company The Next Target?

January 2013 In this Issue The next target for the union is... New Videos! First Cut produced 8 new generic videos for our sister company AGTS. The instant best seller is our card signing video named Signing Your Rights Away (it is now available in union specific version), Contract Negotiations and Conversation Starters, six short videos designed to get people talking in group meetings during a campaign. Plus we just started working on several new interactive courses. If you have a request for an interactive course or a new DVD title please email me. We are always looking to produce new videos! We look forward to being of service!

Do you know who the new Steelworkers are? The Union does. A recent report showed that, in 2012, the most frequently targeted industries were “Business Services, Health Services, Passenger Transportation, Construction and Electric, and Gas & Sanitary Services.• Not a Steelworker among them. Nor an Autoworker, nor any other representative in the manufacturing sector.” Of the approximately 2000 NLRB petitions filed in 2012, 335 were from Business services alone. Health services accounted for 265, and Local and suburban transit & interurban passenger transportation had 149. Virtually every state was hit. In the words of Bob Dylan, “The times they are a’changing.”  Actually, the times have been changing for quite awhile now, but sometimes it takes cold hard facts for all of us to realize that. The move toward service sector jobs and away from manufacturing started slowly but is now at full throttle. What’s that mean to you? Basically, everyone is a target. The Teamsters, the SEIU and all unions have a lot of Administrative salaries and perks to pay. Dwindling manufacturing membership has forced them to try and organize anybody and everybody they can. Often, employees in the service industries have little perception, positive or negative, of what it means to have a union in their workplace. The unions are more than happy to provide their version of utopia. We suggest you counter such activity before it starts. That doesn't mean union bashing. It means union education. The basics, like union rules, lack of flexibility, dues, negotiations, etc. Couple that information with the positive aspects of current company wages, benefits and other policies. That way, if and when the union comes calling, employees are prepared to make legitimate comparisons. Who’s next on the “hit” list? Who’s got a target painted on their back? You might as well open a Business Directory and just point to a random name. Hunting season is open and everything is fair game. Don’t wait until a union has you in their sites. Take preventive action now, communicate to your employees. *Information Source Susan Connelly, PTI Labor Research 1/16/13

How much do Your Employees know about Unions?

How much do Your Employees know about Unions?

Thirty or forty years ago, that would have been an easy question to answer. Union membership was high, and even if people weren't personally union members, they probably knew friends or relatives that were.

Since then, though, union membership has declined by two/thirds or more, most prominently in the private sector. Firsthand union knowledge has not been passed down. Many in today’s workforce don’t really have any idea of what it means to pay dues, abide by union rules, have someone negotiate a contract for them, or what happens during a strike.

Education is vitally important.

As you are no doubt aware, labor laws are likely to change. And they’re only helping unions. Things like Shortened election cycles, Micro units and Persuader rule making are simply the tip of the iceberg. Unions were huge participants in the November election. They have a friendly Administration, and it knows there’s a big debt owed. Organizing is going to become easier and easier. And your company just might be a target.

Now is the time to talk with your employees.

So what can you do to prepare? Well, lots. But the bare minimum is this: Communicate with your employees. Educate them. You don’t have to be the big, bad union basher. Start slowly. Here’s what we mean:

Sign on the Dotted Line. A simple but effective card-signing video.

In a routine meeting, start the process of educating your employees by showing them what might happen. First Cut Communications can create a custom card-signing video just for your company. Or, our sister company, AGTS, offers a proven entry into the fray called “Signing Your Rights Away.” This new video has already stopped numerous campaigns in their tracks and bought valuable time for management to work on the issues. It is also being used in orientations of new employees in several major corporations. They want their employees to know and understand the company’s position on unions.

An Ounce of Prevention . . .

Yes, it’s a cliché. But it’s never been more appropriate than right now. The unions have been quiet for way too long. They need dues money to survive and they really don’t care where they get it. Don’t let a union tell your employees its side of the story first. Campaigns cost big money. Our videos don’t. Start now. Don’t wait to communicate.

Here’s where to find a preview. Every one of your employees should see this message. Call us. Or write us. At the very least, we should be communicating.

First Cut Communications Introduces A New Website

September Newsletter

Successfully communicating company messages
through video for more than 40 years 

 NEW WEBSITE!

First Cut Communications is excited to share our NEW WEBSITE with you! For the first time in our 43-year history, we have a comprehensive list of our services all in one place. Please take a look and give us your feedback.

NEW TITLES!

In addition to creating our website, it’s been a very busy year for us. Of course, we’ve had our regular campaign battles, new employee orientations and we’ve produced 8 new generic videos for our sister company AGTS. The instant best seller is called Signing Your Rights Away, our generic card signing video. (It’s now available in union-specific versions.) Other new titles include Contract Negotiations and Conversation Starters, six short videos designed to get people talking in group meetings during a campaign.

The Vital Role of Human Resources.

Brutal honesty mixed with a little cheerleading … and knowing when to provide both. That’s the fine line Human Resource professionals tread every day. It’s a given that you always have to be honest with employees about how they’re doing their daily job duties. Your constructive feedback to them and their equally honest responses to you will help employees grow. Just as importantly, frank and honest discussions will help prevent issues from arising if you ever have to discharge them. Every employee needs to have a clear understanding as to what they’re doing right and what needs improvement.

Make your employees engaged employees.

You don’t want someone who shows up just to collect a pay check. They’ll simply do the basics, and are the most susceptible to outside influence. An engaged employee will help you fix issues that will save the company money. They’ll give you ideas on what needs to be addressed on the frontline to improve quality and output, as well as provide information on other things of interest (like, is a third party nosing around).

We’ll explore that issue and more in the months to come. Your suggestions for newsletter topics are always welcome and encouraged. 

Contact AGTS
800-814-9792
customerservice@agts-web.com 

Contact First Cut Communications
706-882-5581
info@firstcutcommunications.com 
 

Have you seen our new website?

If not please take a look and give us your feedback. As you know, we’re always eager to hear feedback and make improvements where needed. So please let us know.  Click here to see it.

Have you had an opportunity to see the new video from AGTS (our sister company)?

We produced 8 new generic videos for our sister company AGTS. The instant best seller is called Signing Your Rights Away (it is now available in union specific version), Contract Negotiations and Conversation Starters, six short videos designed to get people talking in group meetings during a campaign. 

Plus we just started working on several new interactive courses. If you have a request for an interactive course or a new DVD title please email me.  We are always looking to produce new videos!

We look forward to being of service!

Sincerely,

Matt French
First Cut Communications, LLC.

 

 

 

The Bell Curve

During his long and successful career of keeping unions out of the workplace, a labor attorney continually reminded his clients and associates that emotions follow a bell curve. If employees’ ill feelings toward management build up slowly, they can only be brought down slowly. However, if there is a sudden burst of anger among employees over an issue, the emotional climate can be improved quickly – assuming the right actions are taken by management.

I’m certain the new shortened time period between the filing of a unionization petition and an election would greatly disturb the venerable attorney and focus much of his attention on prevention of problems. The old adage an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure still holds true.

It all boils down to communication, something too many of us push aside to make room for issues we deem as “more important right now.” As we begin a new year, I hope you will make communication between you and your employees a high priority, and reach out for their input on what issues are of greatest concern to them. That’s always a great starting point and prevents you from winding up behind the bell curve.

Take a look at our ounce of prevention list and let us know which flavor you like.

If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to contactus!

NEW Campaign Videos for 2012!

Sometimes, it’s best to get right to the point. Issues like union life, communications, decertification and competitiveness are often elements of a union campaign that need clarification. First Cut Communications' sister company AGTS is proud to announce some effective, informative and entertaining short (2-3 minute) videos on those topics . . . some of the most important and least understood subjects. Presented in a format suitable for break rooms, on websites, in meetings, as stand-alones and/or as part of a larger media blitz, these hard-hitting videos grab attention and focus on aspects of union activity that all employees (and even managers) need to know . . . before a vote takes place. Click on the one that you would like to see a preview of: Union Life, Communications, Decertification, and Competitiveness

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AGTS provides videos on DVD, with streamed, online delivery available for most video courses, as well as eLearning or Computer Based Training (CBT) courses. We cover topics such as Management Training, Labor Relations, Diversity, Harassment, Workplace Violence, ADA, First Time Supervisor Training, and Union Avoidance.

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Contact AGTS

800-814-9792

customerservice@agts-web.com

Contact First Cut Communications

706-882-5581

info@firstcutcommunications.com

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I get my benefits advice from George

I recently read an interesting article from Aflac insurance. According to their research, people are less likely to take someone's advice about dinner choices at a restaurant at which neither has eaten, than they are to take uninformed advice about what to order from the company's benefits menu.

Just 40 percent of employees participating in the Aflac study feel extremely/very informed about the benefits offered at their companies. In part, this may be due to the fact that employer communications about benefits are sporadic and infrequent. For example, most employees report: their employers communicate about benefits less than three times a year.  Only 24 percent do so three or more times a year. Perhaps most telling is that 44 percent of employees say they receive too little communication about benefits from their employers. In the absence of real information, employees often turn to less-than-reliable sources for insight and guidance. The majority surveyed, 61 percent, say they receive information and/or advice about employee benefits via word of mouth; 45 percent consult colleagues and 36 percent rely on friends or family.

A strong business case can be made for improvements to companies’ benefits communications efforts. The Aflac study found that 41 percent of workers agree they would be less likely to leave their jobs if they were well-informed about their benefits. The turnover cost alone is an incentive for employers to make changes in how and how often their organizations share benefits information.  A crucial step forward for companies is acknowledging the possibility that their communications need improvement. Often, executives have false perceptions. For example, 85 percent of employers believe their HR departments are effective at benefits communication. However, more than one-quarter (27 percent) of workers say their HR teams communicate not very/ not at all effectively, and another 39 percent say the efforts are somewhat effective.

Benefits packages can influence employee loyalty (86 percent), productivity (81percent), job satisfaction (89 percent) and retention (77 percent). With all of those things at stake, implementing a more effective communications and education plan is simply smart business.

Call First Cut Communications at 706-882-5581 we can help!