Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if Labor had not first existed. Labor is superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.  ~Abraham Lincoln

Tuesday May 13, 2008

Business Agent Russ Delaney

 

Once again, FairPoint has given the Union no resolve on the staffing issues.  Within the last several weeks on trying to obtain the numbers, we continuously hit road blocks that they are not going to fulfill.  Enough is enough! In good faith, we as a union are doing our best to make this work.  How about something back?!

Discount tickets are available to Water Country at a cost of $27 each.  Please notify the Union Hall if you are interested.

Labor to Labor Walks will take place on May 17th, 9am-1pm at the AFL-CIO office.  161 Londonderry Turnpike, Hooksett.  Coffee and pastries will be served and a brief training will take place prior to hitting the streets.

Congratulations goes out to our recent Next Step Graduates… Job well done!

Remember you are a union member… Union quality doesn’t cost…. It pays!

Thank you.

IBEW 2320 Headquarters located at:

 46 Third St.

Manchester, NH 03104

Voice: 603-669-8657  Tape:  603-669-7721

Please contact the webmaster if you are experiencing any difficulty with the website.

webmaster@ibew2320.org

Welcome to the IBEW 2320 website.  You will notice several changes from the previous website.  We’ve consolidated a few links and added others.  Union members in good standing are invited to visit our new Discussion page to discuss union issues in an open but secure environment.

Text Box: KNOW YOUR WEINGARTEN RIGHTS
EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT TO UNION REPRESENTATION
The rights of unionized employees to have present a union representative during investigatory interviews were announced by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 1975 case (NLRB vs. Weingarten, Inc. 420 U.S. 251, 88 LRRM 2689). These rights have become known as the Weingarten rights.
Employees have Weingarten rights only during investigatory interviews. An investigatory interview occurs when a supervisor questions an employee to obtain information which could be used as a basis for discipline or asks an employee to defend his or her conduct.
If an employee has a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequences may result from what he or she says, the employee has the right to request union representation. Management is not required to inform the employee of his/her Weingarten rights; it is the employees responsibility to know and request.
When the employee makes the request for a union representative to be present management has three options: 
(I) it can stop questioning until the representative arrives. 
(2) it can call off the interview or, 
(3) it can tell the employee that it will call off the interview unless the employee voluntarily gives up his/her rights to a union representative (an option the employee should always refuse.)
Employers will often assert that the only role of a union representative in an investigatory interview is to observe the discussion. The Supreme Court, however, clearly acknowledges a representative's right to assist and counsel workers during the interview.
The Supreme Court has also ruled that during an investigatory interview management must inform the union representative of the subject of the interrogation. The representative must also be allowed to speak privately with the employee before the interview. During the questioning, the representative can interrupt to clarify a question or to object to confusing or intimidating tactics.
While the interview is in progress the representative can not tell the employee what to say but he may advise them on how to answer a question. At the end of the interview the union representative can add information to support the employee's case.

IBEW 2320 has been in contact with employees of Comcast communications in an effort to organize. The “Union Strong” website will give non union members an opportunity to speak with union members about issues that concern them.  Visit the site by clicking here: Union Strong