This is the reason that managers are the front line of a union busting campaign. A lot of people like their direct supervisors. Or at the very least, they have a working rapport with them. People need to understand that ownership is going to respond to the first mention of the word “union” or even “grievances” with a call to HR, and the first thing they’re going to do is bring in “HR Consultants”. Those are your union busters. At that point, managers are going to be told, “Your job is now to execute this [dis]information campaign. All of your other duties are secondary.” And any disobedience will be treated like collaboration, which will be unambiguously punished.

This is another reason why social mapping is necessary. Some managers are social leaders. Some are not. It really depends.