After holding meetings all day on Wednesday, you voted to give your bargaining team the authorization for presenting SBMC management with a 10 day strike notice, if they deem it necessary.  As we told you, we will still try our hardest to resolve this through negotiations.

After that vote, we promptly called SBMC and offered to return to negotiations on Friday and over the weekend.  SBMC has agreed to this, and we will return to the table on Friday, November 6, and continue to work hard for you.

We understand that management has been making rounds to your units and are questioning you as to what you voted for, did you go to your meeting on Wednesday, etc., and telling you that if you have questions, you should ask them.  We have filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the NLRB about this.

This is wrong and they do not have any right to ask you anything about your Union activities.  You have the right to politely respond that you do not have to speak with them about anything that occurred in those meetings or how you voted, nor do you have to speak with them about anything concerning negotiations.  DO NOT get into a verbal confrontation with management. Just politely tell them that this is not a matter you think it appropriate to discuss with them.

As in the past, SBMC will engage in scare tactics and other efforts to undermine the Union.  They are famous for making threats of what will happen if you trust the Union or exercise your rights.  Do not let their scare tactics break you!  

You trusted this team enough by voting to let us have the authorization for a 10 day notice if we deem it necessary, keep that trust going.  You need to stand your ground.  We will continue to negotiate as long as we think we can make any progress for you.  If you have questions about the negotiations, or your rights, ask the UNION, not management.

Your Bargaining Committee