Unions have had a long tradition of standing up for their members. One of the first things I learned about unions in a history class was that if a union member had to meet with their boss, their Shop Steward, as their union representative, would go with the union member to the meeting to stand up for them, be a voice that knew the rules, and basically fight for the union member.
Years ago, we saw that in action here at Mesa College, when “management” was taking the Cafeteria Cashiers one by one into the boss’s office and, according to rumors, interrogating each of them. Jim Mahler, President of AFT Guild caught wind of this and put a halt to it. FAST. He said that all union members had the right to have a union representative with them and he made sure the Cashiers were represented.
Fast forward to now. That right is in our union contract but I suggest it could be improved by adding to clause 4.4.9 “The AFT Guild representative attending the meeting with the grievant and their dean / department chair, shall not be a faculty member reporting to the same dean and/or department chair, unless requested by the grievant.”
How is this different? Picture this: you are an Officer for AFT Guild, who has been assigned as the AFT Representative to join a union member who has to have a meeting with their boss. You report to the same Dean. I feel it is totally unfair to put anyone in that position. It doesn’t matter if the AFT Guild Representative is an Adjunct or a Contract Faculty member. It has to be awkward. VERY awkward. Can they really stand up for the union member? Do they even open their mouths in support of the union member?
The point is this: How hard would you fight in a meeting with YOUR Dean or Department Chair? Would you even be able to speak up, or just sit there as an observer? It is not fair. Why not just add that simple bit of wording to the negotiated contract? The AFT representative must be from a different school?
I submitted this in my feedback to the AFT Guild and nothing happened. Doesn’t the change make sense to you?
Add to clause 4.4.9 “The AFT Guild representative attending the meeting with the grievant and their dean / department chair, shall not be a faculty member reporting to the same dean and/or department chair, unless requested by the grievant.”