An old advertising jingle urged consumers to “look for the union label.” A union label, or “bug,” typically consists of a union symbol and a number which identifies a specific employer. However, using a bug without permission can have legal repercussions.
Election years are usually good for printers. To woo unions and their members, many candidates want their materials to include a bug. The temptation of work, often at a higher price and with advance payment, leads some non-union printers to illegally include a bug on their work. However, state and federal trademark and copyright laws allow unions to pursue infringers, even after an election is over.
A bug is a union’s intellectual property, which it registers with the government. By signing a collective bargaining agreement with a union, the printer receives a license giving it the legal right to use their bug. The printer must have a current collective bargaining agreement with a union at the time the work is performed. A past agreement or having a few employees who used to be in a union, may not be considered good enough.
Unions frequently protect bugs zealously. They view a bug as a guarantee that the work was done by union workers, who are receiving wages and benefits meeting union standards in a plant that practices responsible labor-management relations. It also helps to maintain and promote the union presence in the printing industry.
Typically, if a printer is found to be using a union bug without authorization,...
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