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Nionism Benefits D.C. Bank and Its Employees

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Nionism Benefits D.C. Bank and Its Employees Employees AAR IITEOffice and Professional COLInternational Union, AFL-CIO and CLC No. 384 FEBRUARY 1979 (1*- 3 nionism Benefits D.C. Bank and Its Employees Customer Deposits, Net Profits and Staff Pay Soar at The National Bank of Washington By JANE PEDEN arbitration machinery to settle any disputes that may This remarkable but solid growth has been due to arise between management and employees. Strange the joint efforts of enterprising and innovative bank When bank employees unionize they not only bene- as it may seem, grievances are now few and far be- management, together with the loyal cooperation of fit themselves but also stimulate management innova- tween, amounting to less than 10 a year, all being our unit members who act as personal sales people in tive skills when they both work together in an at- resolved fairly in a mutual spirit of "give and take." attracting more deposits to their bank. mosphere of mutual respect and harmony. Technological changes have been numerous also Needless to say, from time to time we run into some As an example, I can cite my own experience in since we unionized but they, too, surprisingly have jittery employees who see doom in some new innova- The Washington where I work in National Bank of created new opportunities for career advancement by tion in bank services or a rumor floats about. But the Review In my capacity as unit Loan Department. the employees. Our contract calls for retraining in when the union informs its membership that it cannot & Employees Chief Steward of the Office Professional event of automation, and this solution has proved inhibit management's ability to offer cost-competitive Union, Local 2, our bargaining repre- International mutually beneficial for both the bank and its em- services with other banks, its assurance is met with a I have had a unique opportunity to observe sentative, ployees. general understanding by unit members that what is the results of collective bargaining since we unionized Before the union, promotions were haphazard. good for the bank is also good for them. Thus, man- in 1972. There was an old tradition that if one were good in a agement and union have built up a feeling of mutual Today, as unionized bank employees, we enjoy the particular job he or she stayed there. This no longer trust. highest salaries of any bank in the Washington, D.C. applies; the union changed that. Now whenever a job Summing up, in my opinion it's good business for area. We now have employer-paid medical care with vacancy occurs, our contract requires that it be posted to accept unionization because I optical and dental plans; better vacations, more lib- =bank managements on the bulletin boards so that anyone qualified can Union has contributed to the growth eral personal leaves, and many other fringe benefits know that the apply. and success of the bank where I work. Its profits have that didn't exist before we unionized. Moreover, we Where applicants are of equal ability, seniority is increased with growing deposits, careful investments, enjoy greater job stability and have a new sense of the deciding factor. Consequently, favoritism and innovations. Besides, its personnel personal security. and many service cronyism are ruled out. With this union innovation, turnover has been greatly reduced, another plus on Contrary to what many believe, not only has the career-minded individuals have moved up and quali- the profit side. bank grown in strength and profitability since the fied people in the unit have even been promoted into it has meant greater job and union came in but so has our unit membership which managerial ranks. For the employees, personal security, improved opportunity for advance- now totals 550, against 358 when we unionized in If any argument is needed that unionism is also and promotion, and the highest pay and finest June, 1972. good medicine for management, I believe that our ment fringe benefits for banks in the Washington, D.C. Personnel turnover, which is unusually high and record of success and growth at The National Bank area. costly in non-union banks, has dropped drastically at of Washington can be cited as proof. our bank to a low between 15% and 20% and even When the employees unionized in 1972, its bank For my own part, I cannot understand why this in some months has been down to 10%, reflecting the deposits totaled $373,935,000. On December 31, formula for success and growth, which The National high morale and more stable work force that the 1978, these deposits had grown to $690,670,000 and, Bank. of Washington adopted just a few years ago, union has brought about. in due course, we expect them to reach the one-billion has not been grasped by other bank managements and Under our OPEIU contract we enjoy grievance and dollar mark. bank employees in the area. Office Unionism Booms in Britain 1978 Membership Soars Five Reasons Cited to Explain White Collar Influx A massive influx of white- employers have "to face an adds that employers must also in "President's 100 Club" collar employees into unions in ever-growing number of claims realize "that the organization Sec.-Treas. William, A. Lowe reports that membership in the Britain in recent years has for trade union recognition" of their employees in a trade "President's 100 Club" in 1978 totaled 133, almost double the 79 swelled membership in the that will "effect progressively ' union can have practical advan- figure for contributors in the previous year. Trade Union Congress to the higher status groups in an em- tages for all." The article con- Enrollment in the Club, authorized by the Executive Board in 12 million mark, according to ployer's hierarchy." (Unlike the tinues: 1977 to raise funds for VOTE (Voice of the Electorate), requires NUBE News, official publica- U.S., supervisors and middle "Thus it is quite possible that members to send $100 by check or money order, or sign a payroll tion of the British National managers in Britain are allowed this new growth period will take deduction card for that amount in the year. A gold membership Union of Bank Employees. to unionize.) union membership in the United card is sent to qualifying contributors. Explaining why British white- Asserting that employers Kingdom up to a figure around Contributors who were employees of the International Union collar employees are "increas- cannot ignore "the changing at- 70-80 percent of employees. If, and qualified in 1978 are: ingly turning- toward collective titudes of their employees, or of within this figure, a white-collar Howard Coughlin John W. Cropper, Jr. John F. Fitzmaurice bargaining," the article lists the society as a whole," the article (Continued on Page 3) William A. Lowe Joyce L. Mason John Connolly following reasons: Jack Langford J. 0. Bloodworth Mark Reader 1. The loss of their former Arthur P. Lewandowski Billy M. Kirby Algimiro Diaz Ayala position in earnings rela- George V. Porcaro, Jr. Charles H. Rader W. Charles Harris tive to manual workers. Midwest Council Names Jerry Schmit Eugene J. Dwyer Gerald J. Sufleta 2. The apparent reduced sta- Joseph J. McGee Billie D. Adams Richard W. Holober tus in society of white- Woman. Organizer to Staff Contributors to the Club who were full-time employees of Local collar workers. Unions in 1978: 3. The growing threat to The OPEIU Midwest Coun- John Kelly Norma Martin Wayne Shelton their security of employ- cil announces the appointment H. R. Markusen Michael C. Goodwin John T. Bral ment as a result of auto- to its staff of Jenny Rohrer as J. B. Moss Don Wright Lance A. Meier mation and technological an organizer. She formerly Gwen Newton Gary D. Kirkland Johnnie Ruth Storer change. served in' the same capacity Contributors who were NOT employees of the International 4. The tendency toward em- with another union, and for Union or Local Unions in 1978 were: ployment in larger and several years worked as a vol- Bernard Rapoport Eugene Brasher Gary DeFalco larger groups and the unteer community organizer in James Avery Gerald Brown Jack Dickason growth of corporate bu- Chicago. Jeff Barbernell Hank Brown Elmer Dubuque reaucracy. J. D. Bedford Enoch Burda Elmo Evans Jenny worked for five years Ken Berlin Jack Cain William C. Field 5. The increased detachment in a Chicago documentary film Jenny Rohrer Lester Bjorklund James Cleary Nathan Fogel of clerical and supervisory studio where she made an Dave Blaisdell Billy R. Clifft Charles Ford grades from the top eche- award film on health-care en- She also put in a stint as an Billy Boyle Darrell Collins Richard Ford lons of management. titled "The Chicago Maternity accounting clerk in a Chicago Mike Bracken David K. Daniels Craig Formsma The article points out that Center Story," released in 1977. Loop insurance company. (Continued on Page 4) Page Iwo WHITE COLLAR February 1979' WHITE COLLAR OPEIU's New York Local 153 Supports Stevens Boycott Official Organ of OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION affiliated with the AFL-CIO, CLC HOWARD COUGHLIN WILLIAM A. LOWE President Secretary-Treasurer POST 'ASTERS, ATTENTION - Change of address Form 3579 shout he addressed to: Office and Professional Employees Interna- tional nion, 815 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006. ,"110Nr,,. kLABOR PRESS AFL.CIOICLC I PRINTED IN U S A Published monthly, except for combined July-August issue, by Office and Professional Employees International Union, 815 16th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20Q06, Second class postage paid at Washington, D.C. Reproduction by the Labor Press of any or all material herein contained is not only permitted, but wholly desirable in the interest of workers' education.
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