Standing Together for fairness, safety and dignity on the job
We are skilled workers at Flex, coming together to make our workplace better — safer, fairer, more respectful. Across departments and shifts, our shared goal is this: a work environment where everyone has opportunity, power and a voice
Why We’re Organizing
Fair Advancement & Recognition — Clear paths for career growth. Real acknowledgement when we go above and beyond.
Training, Safety & Quality — Consistent, high-quality training, safe working conditions, and tools that let us do our best work.
Health, Benefits & Support — Our families matter. We want to be involved in decisions about health coverage and benefits that impact us and our loved ones.
Respect & Staffing — Enough people, enough resources, fairness across shifts so no one is left behind.
Know Your Rights: 31 Things Your Employer Can’t Do As workers, we have rights protected by law. Your employer cannot do certain things because they would be considered unfair. These rules are there to protect us as workers and ensure fair treatment. If you think your rights are being violated, don’t hesitate to reach out.
- Attend any union meeting, park across the street from the hall or engage in any undercover activity which would indicate that the employees are being kept under surveillance to determine who is and who is not participating in the union program
- Tell employees that the company will fire or punish them if they engage in union activity
- Lay off, discharge, discipline any employee for union activity
- Grant employees wage increases, special concessions or benefits in order to keep the union out
- Bar employee-union representatives from soliciting employees’ memberships on or off the company property during non-working hours
- Ask employees how they intend to vote
- Threaten employees with reprisal for participating in union activities. For example, threaten to move the plant or close the business, curtain operations or reduce employees’ benefits
- Promise benefits to employees if they reject the union
- Give financial support or other assistance to a union
- Announce that the company will not deal with the union
- Threaten to close, in fact close, or move plant in order to avoid dealing with a union
- Ask employees whether or not they belong to a union, or have signed up for union representation
- Make anti-union statements or act in a way that might show preference for a non-union man
- Make distinctions between union and non-union employee when assigning overtime work or desirable work
- Purposely team up non-union men and keep them apart from those supporting the union
- Transfer workers on the basis of union affiliations or activities
- Choose employees to be laid off in order to weaken the union’s strength or discourage membership in the union
- Discriminate against union people when disciplining employees
- By nature of work assignments, create conditions intended to get rid of an employee because of his union activity
- Fail to grant a scheduled benefit or wage increase because of union activity
- Deviate from company policy for the purpose of getting rid of a union supporter
- Take action that adversely affects an employee’s job or pay rate because of union activity
- Threaten workers or coerce them in an attempt to influence their vote
- Threaten a union member through a third party
- Promise employees a reward or a future benefit if they decide “no union”
- Tell employees overtime work (and premium pay) will be discontinued if the plant is unionized
- Say unionization will force the company to lay off employees
- Say unionization will do away with vacations or other benefits and privileges presently in effect
- Promise employees promotions, raises or other benefits if they get out of the union or refrain from joining union
- Start a petition or circular against the union or encourage or take part in its circulation if started by employees
- Urge employees to try to induce others to oppose the union or keep out of it
Union 101
A union is a nonprofit, democratic organization of workers who have formally come together to promote their interests and advocate on each other’s behalf. Unions push for better wages and working conditions, defend individual workers when their rights are violated on the job, champion state and federal laws and new legislation that protect workers’ rights, and hold irresponsible companies or government agencies accountable in court or by other means, when they don’t do their jobs properly.
The International Association of SMART is made up of many local union chapters around the U.S. and Canada. Every SMART member belongs to a local union that is primarily who they will interact with for most union-related matters. A local union can be as simple as the workers at one manufacturing facility, rail yard or bus company, or it can be tens of thousands of workers across several states at many employers, such as in the HVAC industry. Each local union has its own bylaws and elects its own local union leadership.
In a nonunion setting, the employer makes all the rules. They may promise to listen to employee input, but at the end of the day, they aren’t required to take any of that input seriously and ultimately still get to decide what the final policies are. In a union setting, the rules are negotiated by the union and the employer, with the union representing the best interests of the workers and the employer representing the best interests of the company.
One of the most important benefits of coming together with your co-workers to form a union is gaining the clarity and security of a union contract. Having one means knowing exactly what is expected of you at work, and what you can expect from your employer in return. A union contract is a written agreement between the employer and the employees that details the terms and benefits in a clear and legally binding way.
Because they work! Labor unions band workers together through collective bargaining to exercise a voice in their own lives and futures, in a way that individual wage earners cannot. Union members elect their own officers, determine their own goals, set their own dues and choose the rules by which their unions operate for the common good. It is this collective strength and power that allows labor unions to negotiate for more favorable working conditions and other benefits through collective bargaining. On average, union workers’ wages are 27% higher than their nonunion counterparts, in addition to the many other benefits a union contract brings.
“Organizing” can be a confusing term for people because it means different things in different contexts. Here at SMART, we use it as shorthand to talk about nonunion workers joining SMART to improve their jobs. It starts with workers talking to each other about improving their wages, benefits and working conditions. Once a majority of workers agree that they are interested in forming a union and want to make things better at their workplace, they should reach out to SMART. An experienced organizer whose job is to help guide you through this process will be assigned to you and your co-workers.
Better Wages and Benefits
You deserve more. We believe you’ve earned and deserve better pay at work, and SMART Local 67 members see and feel the difference in their paychecks every day. By coming together in a union, we gain collective strength and power to negotiate higher wages and better benefits at the bargaining table. Union members on average earn more than our nonunion counterparts.
Workplace Safety & Keeping Workers Safe
Does your workplace feel unsafe? You don’t have to work in danger – you should go to work knowing that you will come home safe at the end of the day. Our collective power allows us to negotiate contracts that have strong and enforceable safety language; in many cases, going beyond what’s in laws and regulations. We strive to protect SMART Local 67 members through training, enforcement and contract negotiations to ensure every member’s safety.
Work-life Balance
Work shouldn’t control our existence. Do you need more predictable hours, better access to education, advancement opportunities or better family leave when needed? When you’re a member of SMART, your contract protects you by clearly spelling out your work hours, training requirements, advancement procedures and how you can take time off.
You deserve a life outside of work. SMART members have access to discounts on theme park tickets to have some fun, mortgage and real estate services, auto insurance, lower-cost cellular service and so much more! SMART is there for you no matter what part of your life you’re in.
Employee Rights and Workplace Equality
Diversity and inclusion in the workplace – SMART contracts ensure all working people, no matter their race, gender or sexuality, get a fair opportunity in the workplace. Women in unionized workplaces make more than their nonunion counterparts, and transparency in a union contract can prevent discrimination in raises and promotions. Additionally, non-discrimination clauses in contracts ensure that union workers have protections that go beyond what is contained in law.
SMART Local 67 Interest Form
With a union, we have power and a voice with our employers and elected officials. We fight for wages, health care, safety and respect in our workplaces. There’s never been a better time than now to take the next step! Please fill out the form below for more information.
All Information will be kept confidential.