Know Your Rights!
Contact your union if you:
Are experiencing any employment-related difficulties and are unsure of what to do
Are called into a meeting that may result in discipline, termination, or changes to your working conditions (see below)
Are consistently working more hours than your appointment length - especially for teaching assignments
Think your contract rights have been violated
Think you have been unfairly disciplined or terminated
Are filing a violation against the university (civil rights, discrimination, misconduct, etc) and would like additional support
Grievances are time-sensitive! Please contact GEO immediately. Even if you are unsure of whether it is something GEO can help with, it is better to contact us just in case.
Your Right to Representation in a Meeting
Adapted from Teamsters for a Democratic Union
Under our contract, you have the right to have a union representative present at a meeting that you believe will lead to discipline, termination, or changes in your working conditions.
In this meeting, your union rep can take notes, ask clarifying questions, request a recess to advise you on answering questions, and stop abuse and harassment.
Before the meeting say the following:
“If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated or affect my personal working conditions, I request that my union representative or steward be present at this meeting. Without representation I choose not to answer any questions”
If management says you will not be disciplined, ask for a written statement stating so. If they give you that statement, you will have to participate. If they refuse, stay for the meeting, take notes, and contact GEO immediately afterwards.
If management says you may be disciplined but are not allowed a representative, read the above statement, stay in the room, take notes, don’t respond to any questions, and contact GEO immediately.