Know Your
Weingarten Rights
Weingarten
rights guarantee an employee the right to union representation during an
investigatory interview by the employer. 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 the meeting
could in any way lead to the employee being disciplined or terminated, or
affect his or her working conditions, he or she should respectfully request
that a union representative or officer be present at the meeting. If
representation is requested and denied, the employee may choose not to answer
any questions.
A principal or
other administrator is not required to inform the employee of his/her Weingarten
rights; it is the
employees responsibility to make the request. When the employee makes the request for a union
representative to be present, a principal has three options:
(1) to stop questioning until the representative arrives;
(2) to call off the interview or,
(3) to tell the employee that he or she 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 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, representatives cannot tell employees what to say,
but they may advise how to answer a question. At the end of the interview the union
representative can add information to support the employee's case.
Please never
hesitate to enlist the support of your building representative or Association
officers if we may be of assistance.
If you ever believe that a meeting with a principal or administrator may
result in discipline or termination, bring union representation with you to the
meeting.