The employer often meets with employees without telling them they can bring a Shop Steward.
What should I do?
Answer
T
he employer is required to inform employees of their right to union representation if a meeting is discipline-related or could lead to discipline. They can meet with employees alone for matters related to work and performance.
Members can choose to not have union representation at investigative or fact-finding meetings but this is not advisable. They risk being treated unfairly with no one else to stand up for them, or take notes of the proceedings or support them.
You can:
- Remind members that they shouldn't attend a meeting with the employer on their own.
- Tell members that at any time during a meeting with the employer if they think that it is turning into an investigative meeting, they can just stop and ask for union representation.
- Put up a poster on your bulletin board reminding members of this important right.
- Host a Lunch and Learn- it is a good way to instill in the workplace knowledge about this and other basic rights.
- Talk to the employer and remind them of the language in the collective agreement that pertains to union representation.