Communication Model & Your Rights as a Member

As a WEAC member, these are your Weingarten Rights:

Union Representation and the Disciplinary Interview 
An employee who is called in to a meeting with his or her employer, which may lead to some disciplinary action, is entitled to union representation. An employee must request to have a union representative present during the investigatory interviews, which the employee reasonably believes will result in disciplinary action.

If management wants to question or “interview” you,
First: Ask what is involved. Ask if this might lead to your being disciplined.

If so:

• Tell management that you want a union representative present. (The employer is not required to postpone the interview because a particular representative is unavailable).
• Refuse to answer any questions until a union representative is present.
• Refuse to allow any tape or any other electronic recording of the interview.

If management insists on proceeding with the interview without regard for your rights, make clear that you are proceeding under protest. Take careful notes. Answer questions briefly, but honestly.

If you make a mistake or start the interview and become bothered by the direction the interview is taking, stop the interview, request that a union representative be present before continuing with the interview.

Please use your professional judgment when deciding who to talk to.  If it is best that your issue is handled in your building, then please talk with your building administrator. 

If you have an issue with discipline, please see your rights above and contact an association executive right away.

If you have a large, general issue that you are seeing in your building that may be happening district-wide (or not happening district-wide), please contact an association representative at a monthly assembly or by emailing/calling us.

Have questions?  Here is who to contact: