Know Your Rights

As a union member, you are guaranteed specific rights under our contract and federal law.

Your rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA)

• Join or support a union
• Have a union representative present in any meeting that may result in disciplinary action
• Talk about the union at work
• Wear union buttons or t-shirts
• Be fairly represented by the union

Grievances

• If you work in Dining and you believe your rights have been violated at work, especially if you were fired or disciplined unfairly, we can file a grievance
• The grievance process allows us to formally raise issues with admin under our contract
• If you plan to file a grievance, contact the union ASAP at ugsdw.org@gmail.com! There’s a tight timeline that we have to follow.

What can’t your employer do?

• Threaten employees with loss of jobs or benefits if they join or vote for a union or engage in protected concerted activity.
• Threaten to close a workplace if employees select a union to represent them.
• Question employees about their union sympathies or activities in circumstances that tend to interfere with, restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of their rights under the Act.
• Promise benefits to employees to discourage their union support.
• Transfer, lay off, terminate, assign employees more difficult work tasks, or otherwise punish employees because they engaged in union or protected concerted activity.
• Transfer, lay off, terminate, assign employees more difficult work tasks, or otherwise punish employees because they filed unfair labor practice charges or participated in an investigation conducted by NLRB.

Your Weingarten Rights

If you’re ever questioned by a supervisor and believe that the discussion could possibly lead to disciplinary action, you have the right to

• Request a union representative
• Refuse to answer questions until representation is present
• Speak privately with the union representative to explain the situation and your side of the story
• You may not be disciplined or retaliated against for exercising your Weingarten rights.

Your rights under the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA)

• Bill of Rights

  • equal rights to participate in union activities
  • freedom of speech and assembly
  • voice in setting rates of dues, fees, and assessments
  • protection of the right to sue
  • safeguards against improper discipline
• Receive or inspect copies of Collective Bargaining Agreements
• Access to yearly government reports the union must file

• Officer Elections – Union members have the right to:

  • nominate candidates for office
  • run for office
  • cast a secret ballot
  • protest the conduct of an election
• Officer Removal – Local union members have the right to an adequate procedure for the removal of an elected officer guilty of serious misconduct.
• Protection for Exercising LMRDA Rights – A union or any of its officials may not fine, expel, or otherwise discipline a member for exercising any LMRDA right.
• Prohibition Against Violence – No one may use or threaten to use force or violence to interfere with a union member in the exercise of LMRDA rights.