How can my union support me after being suspended?

Long story short I’m being suspended after rules were enforced and I keep breaking these rules, I’m in shift work and I never wait for my replacement because they always come in late so I always leave before they arrive. Ironically I’m the one being penalized in this case and not the people coming in late, I definitely know they’re pulling this now because me and a few others unionized, there’s other bs I can’t get into but it seems like they’re just trying their best to remove the unionized workers but I have no proof so it won’t benefit me.

I know that one person got fired over something but they were unionized so they got rehired. I have a feeling like it won’t help my case that I’ve been leaving when I want because it just looks bad, can the union help me get a job or prevent me from termination?

7 comments

Shit, it doesn't sound like you're leaving "when you want", it sounds like you're leaving "when your shift is done".

Big difference
- Yessss this; unless there's specific language about compulsory overtime in a ratified contract then OP should be able to fight termination I believe
Hmmm from my knowledge, your union can't help you get a job, unless you work in a trade like electricians union then I think the way they operate is quote a bit different from say service industry unions.

Do you have a union contract yet, or are you about to start bargaining/in the middle of bargaining?

I'd definitely speak to your union rep about this ASAP. If you don't yet have a contract, I believe that the agency is supposed to keep the status quo - meaning that they are not to make any changes to working conditions while you're in the middle of negotiations. If this rule was implemented after you unionized, it's likely that the union can advocate on your behalf because this sounds like it could be an unfair labor practice.
Do you have a contract? If so that's where the rules about when you can leave and the disciplinary process would be outlined. From there contact your steward and file a grievance (assuming that's how your contract is set up).

If you don't have a contract or you clearly violated it then you gotta get your coworkers to fight for you on the floor.

Depending on what union you're a member of they might help you find work but that's something to ask your steward or union rep.
Your union should have a rep in the room for every discussion with management and should be telling management that they're violating your contract by expecting work outside of designated shifts. If that's not an obvious contract violation then they should be talking to a lawyer to find the legal basis of what is reasonable and how labor law applies.

They should also be taking action to demand that you be reinstated. Not just making the demand but actually disrupting work until management relents.

This is a very obvious attack on the union itself, you're just the proxy. At minimum, everyone that was pro-union needs to be in a meeting where they are given the background of this and how it is bullshit that will hurt them as well. They need innoculation and then there needs to be an action planned to make the demand.

Common actions that get the goods:

A walkout

A slowdown

A recorded confrontation with managers (have a community member do the recording)

A sickout

I am focusing on actions because legal avenues are usually very slow. Companies bank on you trying to follow "the process" and eventually giving up due to the time cost and having to get another job. The only way to have a strong union is to fight immediately.
- I don’t think my comrades will walk out, one of them (my friend) wouldn’t even let me leave first because it was my dad’s birthday, this is 5 minutes difference too. Same person didn’t get some certification the management asked us to get twice so it’s not a good case for him. I’ll talk to my other unionized friend and then contact the union but he’s older than me and I feel he would handle the situation better than I would. I will discuss this with him and see what we can do and maybe organize a walk out
  
  If y'all aren't ready to organize and walk out for each other you're going to lose any half-assed decertification campaign anyways. Might as well not have a union.
  
  Someone else should've already been doing this on your behalf. How is your union organized? Do you have a shop steward or similar person that would be the natural "go-to"? Or other workers that are active?

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