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Ten Truths About Employee Communication In A Unionized Environment

Written by: John Barr

Article Overview: Most enlightened managers realize that effective employee communication is vital to organizational success. However, the presence of a union complicates management's mission to communicate effectively with employees. What are the "rules of engagement" in a unionized environment? A veteran employee communicator shares his experience.

Ten Truths About Employee Communication In A Unionized Environment

Ten Truths About Employee Communication
in a Unionized Environment

by John J. Barr
Principal,
Cascadia Communication Associates
contact: consultjohn@dccnet.com

www.prheadquarters.com


1. Define the issues, and weave your definition into
everything you communicate. If you allow the union to define
what the issues are in a dispute, you always lose.

2. Seize every opportunity to talk and listen to your employees
and treat them with respect. Don’t persuade the union; persuade your
employees.

3. Learn how to debate. Unions know how to already.

4. Don’t wait for the union to strike the first blow; understand
that they’ll always try.

5. Lawyers have an essential role in advising management, but do not allow them to dictate employee communication strategy.

6. Likewise for negotiators.

7. Don’t fall for the myth that there is a distinction between
“media” and “employee” communication. The union uses the
media to communicate to its members and its members to
communicate to the media; so must you.

8. The dictum, “don’t negotiate through the media”, is a union
myth designed to unilaterally disarm management in the
contest for employee and public support. The unions negotiate
through the media more or less continually. If you don’t use
the media, you’ll be the only party that isn’t.

9. It’s usually a safe assumption that media will tend, however slightly, to sympathize with the union (and if not with the union, with employees). Track what reporters report. If their reports show bias, call them on it. Insist on factual reporting and balance.

10. Don’t be afraid to communicate out of fear that the union will
claim “foul” or hit you with an unfair labour practice
complaint. They’ll probably do both. No matter what you do. Don’t play the communication game by the union’s rules.

-30-

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