¢ Your Right to Union
Representation
Employees
at SHAP, like all private-sector workers covered by a union contract, have a
right to union representation in situations including any investigatory
interview which may lead to some form of disciplinary action. This right comes
from a 1975 Supreme Court case in which the US Supreme Court defined these
rights, which are known as Weingarten Rights.
¢ Unlike the more well known
Miranda Rights, management does not have to tell you about them. You, as an
employee, need to know your rights and demand them from management.
¢ If you believe a management
interview may lead to any form of discipline, you must ask that your Chief
Steward be present. You cannot be punished for making this request.
¢ Once you make this request, SHAP
management must choose from among three options. They can:
1) Grant the
request and delay questioning you until the union representative arrives and
has a chance to consult privately with you;
2) Deny the
request and end the interview immediately; or
3) Give the
employee a choice between completing the interview without representation or ending the interview.
We
recommend in all cases, that you insist on ending the interview unless
your Steward is present and you have had the chance to talk with your union
rep.
Once you have asked for union representation, Chrysler is in violation of the
law (an “unfair labor practice”) if they continue to ask questions. Under the
Supreme Court decision, you have the right to refuse to answer and cannot be
disciplined for that refusal.
¢ By long-standing custom and
practice at Chrysler, you have the right to have your union representative
present if discipline is being issued to you. At one time, management
recognized this as a right, but recent changes within the HR Department has
resulted in disregarding this right. Again, you must insist that your union rep
is present anytime management attempts to issue discipline.
¢ Tuition Assistance
¢ At this time, the national
parties are still discussing the implementation of the return of the Tuition
Assistance Program (TAP). Further information will be distributed as soon as it
is available.
¢ Auto Show Tickets
A
limited number of discounted tickets for the Detroit Auto Show will be available
through our PQI staff. Tickets are $9 for the day, instead of the regular $12.
Contact Cheryl Hall at 5251 in the plant, or (586) 977-5251 from outside, for
more information.
¢ Sexual Harassment
Sexual
harassment is wrong. It is disrespectful treatment of other employees, it
breaks with long-standing UAW principles, it violates Chrysler policy, and it
is illegal. All employees have received training in sexual harassment avoidance
and should conduct themselves in a respectful manner with all other employees.
Consider how you would feel if similar behavior was applied to a member of your
family and you should have a good sense of what is okay and what is not.
¢ In the past, some employees have
been discharged by Chrysler following an investigation of sexual harassment
allegations against them.
¢ If you have questions about your
behavior, talk with your Chief Steward or Kendra Thorington-Fox, the UAW EAP
Rep for Local 1700. Kendra can be reached at 6548 in the plant, or (586)
978-6548 from the outside.
¢ If you believe you have been a
victim of sexual harassment, contact your Chief Steward or EAP Rep for advice.
You may report sexual harassment to your supervisor, the plant’s HR department,
or to the corporate work life/diversity office at (866) 374-1208.
¢ Update Your Beneficiary
It
is very important that each member consider the beneficiary of their insurance
or pension. Events change in our lives, and too often we fail to update our
beneficiaries.
¢ To update your information, go
to DashboardAnywhere or see your Benefit Rep for assistance. Our Benefit Reps
can be contacted at the following numbers:
Iranette Foster In-plant 5287 Outside
(586) 977-5287
Timothy Davenport In-plant 6615 Outside (586) 978-6615
¢ Audit of your Health Care Dependents
Chrysler
is doing an audit of all participants in their health care plans. If your
health care coverage includes anyone besides yourself – spouse, children, or
others – then you will receive a letter from Benefit Express about this audit. YOU
MUST RESPOND TO THIS MAILING!
¢ If you fail to respond to
Benefit Express, your dependents will be removed from your coverage.
¢ There is an amnesty period from
January 5 through February 4 for the removal of any dependents who may have
been included in your coverage improperly. There will be no cost to you for anyone
removed during this amnesty period. This must be completed before February 5,
2012, to ensure no costs to you.
¢ After the end of the amnesty
period any ineligible dependents claimed on your plans could result in your
being charged for the total cost of their health care claims or premiums paid
on their behalf.
¢ You will be required to submit
documentation to Benefit Express establishing the legal relationship between
you and each legitimate dependent on your health care coverage. The mailing you
receive from Benefit Express will contain all the information you need to
comply with the audit.
¢ The deadline for completing the
submission of documentation is April 5, 2012.
¢ If you have questions about this
audit, please contact your Chief Steward or Benefit Rep.
¢ Next Membership Meeting
The
next meeting of Local 1700 will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2011, at 12:00
noon at the Local 1700 Hall, 8230 East 8 Mile Road in Detroit. Please
note that this is the fourth Sunday of January. The change was approved
by the membership because the third Sunday falls within the three day Martin
Luther King, Jr., Holiday Weekend. The agenda will include the regular order of
business.