It’s October and Halloween is just around the corner. Scary movie marathons are running nonstop, its getting dark earlier, and we even had a recent Friday the 13th! Something scary is in the air.

While millions of Americans celebrate all things spooky this month, millions more face something very frightening: going to work every day without the protection of a union. Today, let’s take a look at five scary things you face when your workplace is non union.

IF YOUR WORKPLACE IS NON-UNION…

• You are an “employee at will.” Your boss can discipline or fire you at any time for nearly any reason.
• Management’s “open door” policy means your boss will listen to you… and then do whatever he or she wants.
• Your boss determines wages, benefits and other terms and conditions of work without having to consult with the workers. If you’re not satisfied with the conditions of your employment, then you can try to find another job.
• They don’t just set them initially, either. If you don’t have a union, wages, benefits and other terms and conditions can be changed by the boss at any time, without having to ask the workers what they think.
• Hiring and promotion is up to the discretion of your boss, putting you in a scary position if you aren’t on your boss’s good side.

However, these horrors can be stopped by having a union contract…

• Discipline, up to and including discharge, is subject to a grievance procedure and binding arbitration, depending on the terms of your contract.
• Contract negotiations require both sides — labor and management — to listen, and reach reasonable compromises acceptable to both sides.
• Wages, benefits and working conditions are negotiated. If you are not satisfied, you can work for changes during contract negotiations.
• Neither labor nor management can make unilateral changes to a signed contract. If modifications are necessary during the life of a contract, both sides must agree.
• Hiring and promotion is covered by contract. Seniority and other factors can be written into the agreement.