At the end of negotiations we will have a tentative agreement. In accordance with Department of Labor rules, this agreement must be ratified (reviewed and voted on) by the membership before it is official. This meeting will be on a typically non-work day (Sat/Sun) at a location which can hold all membership wishing to attend.
At this meeting the negotiating team will brief the membership on all changes to the CBA in the tentative agreement, will answer member questions, and will make their recommendation to the membership on whether to vote for or against the agreement.
Only the membership in attendance will have the right to vote for or against the agreement. An absent member IS NOT counted as a vote for accepting the agreement. Members will vote via secret ballot FOR or AGAINST the agreement, decision is based on a simple majority.
If the membership vote against the agreement a second vote called a “strike vote” is held immediately. That vote on whether to immediately go on strike requires a 2/3 majority to pass. If the vote ends in a yes vote the entire bargaining unit is on strike and will not report to work, the negotiating team returns to the table and resumes negotiations.
If that vote ends in a no vote to strike, we automatically accept the tentative agreement as is. This is called being “backed into an agreement” and is not a good position to be in. The company will view this as us getting a bad deal and not being willing to do anything about it. This can have a significant impact on our bargaining position for the next contract.