Your Rights and Protections in Disciplinary Hearings

Did you know that you have the right to union representation in any meeting or phone call where you could be questioned about your job conduct or work performance? Some examples include meetings with course coordinators about negative feedback from your students, or meetings where you may be questioned about your compliance with COVID policies. Now that we have a union contract, we have the right to due process at work.  

Any grad worker employed in a bargaining unit job (that includes you!) has what are known as Weingarten Rights. These rights mean that if you request union representation during an investigatory meeting, our employer cannot question you until you have had a chance to privately discuss the situation with your union rep, and our employer must permit the union rep to join you while you are questioned.  

Your union has your back, and as part of the bargaining unit, the law is on your side too. We encourage you to insist upon your right to union representation: “I respectfully request that my union representative or steward be present at the meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions.”

Worksite stewards are responsible for ensuring representation in workplace disciplinary hearings. If you have an issue in the workplace, including if you are facing disciplinary action, your steward is the first person you should reach out to! If you do not know who your steward is, or need help contacting them, please email us at comms@glounion.org.