Better Pay & Benefits
Even though veterinary services are in higher demand than ever, vets and vet techs are not being fairly compensated for their work. With a union, you and your coworkers can negotiate for the pay and benefits you deserve.
Work-life Balance
Vet professionals are often at the mercy of their manager when it comes to scheduling, which generally means long and inconsistent hours. As union members, you will have a say in notice and scheduling to adequately plan for your work and family responsibilities.
Improved Workplace Standards
During the pandemic, workplace safety standards and protocols are more important than ever. In addition to not receiving hazard pay, many vet clinics do not have adequate PPE and sufficient safety practices. By uniting, you can raise workplace standards.
Why a Union for Veterinary Professionals?
Veterinary services have become more important than ever with vet clinics and animal hospitals being deemed essential in most places. Unfortunately, vet professionals’ pay and conditions are not keeping up with the growing demands for vet services. You can raise standards, earn a fair return on your work, and create stronger workplaces by joining with your coworkers in union. Organizing a union allows you and your coworkers to negotiate directly with the management of your clinic, hospital, or other animal care practice about the issues that matter most to all of you. Professionals in a wide variety of occupations have formed unions and achieved tangible gains, including salary minimums, work-life balance, improved retirement contributions, and a voice in decisions that affect them. The only way vet professionals can have a legally protected say in important workplace decisions is if they join together with their coworkers in a union.
Start Forming a Union In Your Workplace
1
Talk to your co-workers
The bedrock of every new union is one-on-one conversations with your coworkers in order to build a common vision of what a better workplace could look like. These conversations should focus on identifying what is important to each one of your coworkers individually and how that fits in with the collective effort of organizing a union.
2
Start building your union
Through these conversations, you’ll identify other coworkers who are not just supportive of the formation of a union, but who also want to be an active part of building it. This key group of supporters will work together to engage the rest of your coworkers to get them involved in creating your union.
3
Contact us for help
IAM and the Vet Professionals Union can provide you with the professional support and resources needed for your union to be successful. Contact us before you begin speaking with your colleagues or after you have had a couple of conversations. We want to support and guide you through the process.
IAM Members Live Better
The International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) represents roughly 600,00 workers across North America. That includes healthcare, aerospace, air and rail transport, manufacturing, distribution center and public-sector workers – just to name a few.
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The Benefits of Belonging
More Money
Union members earn roughly $200 more every week than non-members. But it’s so much more than that. It’s about negotiating with your bosses over set wage increases that can’t change at management’s whim.
Fairness
A union-negotiated contract puts rules in place that allow you to do your job without fear of retaliation or unjust treatment. If you feel those rules have been broken, you have the legal right to appeal through a grievance procedure. As a result, everyone is treated with respect.
Free College
The IAMAW Free College Benefit makes it possible for you and your family members to earn an associate degree completely online — for FREE.
Learn MorePaid Time Off
Some 87 percent of union workers have access to paid sick days, compared to 69 percent of non-union workers. Roughly 89 percent of union workers get paid vacation and holidays, compared to roughly 75 percent of non-union workers.
Your Rights Under the Law
Under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), you and your co-workers have certain rights when it comes to forming a union.
You have the right to form, join or assist a union.
You have the right to distribute union literature, wear union t-shirts, ask co-workers to sign authorization cards and discuss the union with co-workers on non-work time.
Supervisors and management are not allowed to spy on you, coercively question you, threaten you or bribe you regarding your union activity.
You have the right to organize a union to negotiate with your employer over your wages, benefits and other working conditions.
Your employer cannot prohibit you from talking about or soliciting for a union during non-work time (including before and after work or during breaks).
You can’t be fired, disciplined, demoted, or penalized for engaging in any of the above mentioned activities.
Source: NLRB.gov
Contact Us
Vet professionals interested in learning more about unions should fill out the form below. We look forward to helping you start connecting with your coworkers about improving your pay, benefits, and working conditions.
Contact Us
Please tell us a little bit about your workplace. (What city and state is your clinic or hospital located in? How many coworkers do you have? What challenges do you face at work?) Additionally, please let us know how you would be preferred to be contacted.