Brothers and Sisters hold on, the New Year is picking up speed, we are about to be in February 2020. Thanks to all the members who took the time to make a unit meeting in January. As I write this article we have two meetings remaining in the last week of January. The Dallas meeting January 28th, and the Ft. Worth meeting January 30th. The Union had a trial scheduled at the National Labor Relations Board in Ft. Worth, Texas, regarding Weingarten Rights on January 29, 2020. The parties reached a settlement on the case. The charge stemmed from employees at the Taylor, Tx. Yard requesting union representation for an investigatory meeting. Company representatives had someone picked out to take notes for the meeting. Union members insisted on a steward to be present during the investigation. The Company insisted to meet without fulfilling the request for union representation. The Union filed a complaint with the NLRB and the NLRB upheld the charge. There should be a posting within 14 days at the Taylor, Tx., Service Center stating WE WILL NOT deny your request to have representatives of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local Union 69, present during investigatory interviews when you reasonably fear discipline. WE WILL NOT in any like or related manner interfere with your rights under Section 7 of the Act. Please be reminded of the following:
1. Bargaining Unit Employees have the right to union representation during investigatory interviews in which they have reason to believe that disciplinary action may be taken against them. Union representatives may ask questions during the interview, they are not mere notetakers.
2. Bargaining Unit Employees have choice with respect to whom the union representative shall be. If the employee requests a specific representative, we should make efforts to obtain the participation of the chosen representative. If the chosen representative is not reasonably available, another union representative may be offered to the employee.
3. Bargaining Unit Employees may choose to be represented by other members of the Unit who are not stewards or officials in the Union. Although Bargaining Unit Employees may make such a choice, they cannot be required to make this choice. If an employee asks for union representation during an investigatory meeting, the employee should be provided with a union steward or, where one is not immediately available, told that he has the option of being represented by another member of the Unit or of foregoing the meeting.
The Union and Company have the first quarterly meeting scheduled for February 20th. If you have any safety concerns, or having trouble getting tools to perform your job, or any other issues please, email the Union Hall or relay the information to a steward so these issues can be discussed at the quarterly meeting in February.
Until next time work safe and may God bless you, your family, and our local union.
Fraternally,
Bobby W. Reed