Local 445 Shop Stewards at a recent session on how to deal with problems at the workplace.

Union Officials Are There To Help:

     If you are in the middle of a sticky situation at your workplace, there are a number of ways you can deal with it.

     If your situation involves a Teamster co-worker, call your Shop Steward and/or Business Agent, and ask their advice. Depending on the situation, there are various solutions that could fix or at least calm your situation. Nothing will be done without your consent.

     If your situation involves management, you must understand your options. Again, your Union Shop Steward and Business Agent are your first and best place to start. You can always call your Business agent directly, at the phone and extension listed elsewhere in this newspaper. In addition, Shop Stewards always have the cell phone of their Business Agent.

     If for whatever reason you do not want your particular Shop Steward handling your situation, you have the option of requesting alternative representation from your Business Agent. Such requests will always be honored, no matter what the reason.

     If your problem involves management violating your contract, a grievance can be filed with your consent. All Shop Stewards and Business Agents have blank grievance forms available. If you are nervous about taking this step, remember that in both the public and private sectors, there are legal protections in place to prevent retaliation by management. It is illegal for management to penalize in any way a union member for filing a grievance or raising an issue.   

If the grievance can be settled amicably, great. If not, Teamsters Local 445 will move the matter forward to arbitration before an independent judge if necessary. All legal costs are borne by our Union.

     Sometimes a problem is not necessarily a grievance. One very useful tool in every contract for such situations is the right to call “Labor- Management Meetings,” where issues can be discussed intelligently and hopefully resolved.

     “Our Union and its excellent attorneys stand ready, willing and able to assist our members in any way,” said Local 445 Secretary-Treasurer Adrian Huff.  

One of the differences between The Teamsters and many other labor unions is our strong belief that Business Agents should be visible and influential at every workplace. Most unions direct Business Agents to handle 5,000 or more members; in The Teamsters, that number is closer to 750. Teamsters Business Agents work very closely with the Shop Stewards on your behalf. In Teamsters Local 445, Shop Stewards are elected by the members except in the Construction Sector (because of shifting projects). Shop Stewards receive comprehensive training from our Union; there is a full-day seminar for all Stewards set as this newspaper goes to print.

Workplace contracts are generally distributed by Shop Stewards. If you need a copy of your contract, immediately ask your Steward or Business Agent.