Know Your Rights!

If a supervisor or the boss asks questions that could lead to disciplinary action, IFPTE Local 21 members have the right to ask for union representation.

This is something all IFPTE Local 21 members should know.

Weingarten Rights

Weingarten Rights include the legal right of employees to have union representation at investigatory interviews. Management has no right to refuse.

  • An investigatory interview occurs when a supervisor questions an employee about anything that could be used as a basis for discipline or asks an employee to defend their conduct.
  • Employees can invoke their Weingarten rights and request union representation at any place and any time if they have a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequences may result from what they say.
  • Management is not required to inform the employee of their rights. It is the employee’s responsibility to know and request. If an employee answers management’s questions, they’ve given up their right to representation. Make sure your coworkers know their rights!

 

Ideally, a member should say something like:

I am concerned that this discussion could lead to disciplinary action being taken against me or affect my personal working conditions. I request that my IFPTE Local 21 representative be present at this meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions.

Anything close to this statement will do. Any further attempt by a boss to ask questions is illegal until a steward arrives. If management denies a request for union representation, this is an unfair labor practice—and the member may refuse to answer any questions.

Download a Weingarten Card and print it out. It can be presented to management when a worker is facing disciplinary action  —  or is concerned that a situation could lead to disciplinary action.