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INFORMATION #2 – Q&A 4 – 6

QUESTION #4: Am I “the union” and will I have to follow Union rules if it wins?
MANAGEMENT ANSWER: People are saying that “we are the union” and that there would be a
separate RBC union here – not the Laborers. That is simply not correct. LiUNA is its own legal
entity and it is the union that is on the ballot that would be the exclusive representative if the
union wins. LiUNA has a document called a Constitution and By-Laws that formed its
organization. This document also creates the rules members must follow and the requirement
for members to pay dues, fees and assessments. If a member does not follow the rules,
he/she/they can be put on trial and subjected to penalties by the Union (including fines, removal
from membership, etc.).
RBC UNION STAFF REBUTTAL: RBC employees united and concluded that the formation of a
union was necessary to advocate for our interests. LiUNA's role is not to impose its will upon us,
but rather to facilitate discussions among Rose Brooks management regarding our workplace
preferences. LiUNA serves as our legal representative, informing and negotiating with Rose
Brooks based on our collective desires. It is important to acknowledge that the existence of the
union is solely due to the dedication and involvement of RBC staff. The union representative
and pro-union employees are not aware of any member rules that could potentially subject
individuals to trials or penalties by LiUNA.

QUESTION #5: Union representatives and supporters have promised wage increases and
other things if the Union wins - are these promises guaranteed?
MANAGEMENT ANSWER: NO. It is common for organizers to make promises like this.
However, that is not how the process works. If the Laborers win this vote, it becomes the
exclusive legal bargaining representative for all covered employees. Nothing union supporters
may promise is guaranteed during this bargaining. The law specifically provides that wages and
benefits could go up, stay the same or go down in good faith bargaining. No outcome or
promise is guaranteed. RBC is a non-profit. We are not like a for-profit company that can charge
customers more and potentially have more revenue to pay wages and benefits. We are not a
city government that can raise taxes. Quite simply, the promises the laborers are making
demonstrates it does not understand our donation/grant funding process and limits.

RBC UNION STAFF REBUTTAL: The union representative and pro union staff members are
not aware of any promises that have been made. There are several benefits that we would like
to see change, but we do recognize that both parties, us and Rose Brooks, will need to make
compromises in order to reach an agreement that benefits everyone involved. It is interesting to
note that it has been mentioned that benefits could decrease if we were to unionize. However,
according to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which is the federal agency
responsible for enforcing and administering federal labor laws, it is against the law to remove
benefits or threaten employees with job loss or loss of benefits if they choose to join or support
a union.

Additionally, we understand that RBC is a nonprofit organization. We are not asking for an
excessive amount of compensation. However, we do need to be able to afford fair market rent

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and, if applicable, daycare expenses, so that we can focus our efforts on assisting survivors in
crisis rather than worrying about our own financial needs. Furthermore, according to ProPublica,
it seems that RBC does have the financial capacity to adequately compensate its employees,
with a surplus of over $1.6 million at the end of 2023.

QUESTION #6: Can I opt out of being in LiUNA and not have to pay union dues?
MANAGEMENT ANSWER: NO. There is a difference between public sector employers (e.g.
government and schools) and the private sector. The Supreme Court has said that public sector
employees can opt out and cannot be forced to be union members or pay monthly dues (Janus
v. AFSCME). That does not apply to private sector employees like RBC. As a private employer,
RBC employees cannot be forced by the union to be full union members but a union contract
CAN legally require employees to pay monthly dues if the union wins. Unlike initiation fees,
which unions often waive during organizing, dues are required by the LiUNA Constitution in
states that are not right-to-work.

RBC UNION STAFF REBUTTAL: If you are a member of the bargaining unit as an employee
and we unionize, it is indeed the case that you cannot choose to not be a part of the union.
Likewise, this implies that you will be required to pay the union dues. However, it is crucial to
keep in mind that the payment of these dues will only commence once the contract is officially
approved. We are hopeful that any potential salary increases we may achieve will serve as
compensation for the union dues. Furthermore, it is worth noting that LiUNA Local 955 members
outside of the construction industry are exempt from paying initiation fees both during and after
the organizing process.

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