Chapter 22: Labor Management Meetings
Establishing and maintaining constructive working relationships with union representatives will help you to be clear about management and employee concerns and to reach mutually satisfactory resolution of informal and formal complaints. Your Labor/ Employee Relations Analyst can provide guidance on developing relationships and conducting meetings with union representatives. You may be required to attend meetings to explain proposed actions that will affect terms and conditions of employment, or to resolve grievances with union representatives in attendance. When you call a meeting with an employee, that individual may request union representation. Under certain circumstances, such a request is appropriate.
Key Considerations
- Contact your Labor/ Employee Relations Analyst.
- Clarify the purpose of a meeting before scheduling it.
- Identify the appropriate participants.
- Schedule and hold meetings in a timely manner.
- Allow enough time for discussion of issues raised by the employee or you.
- Provide a location free of interruptions.
- Limit the discussion to those issues identified as the subject of the meeting.
- Allow a reasonable period of time for thorough discussion of the issues.
- Do not permit personal attacks or abuse.
- Maintain self-control.
- Don't make commitments if you are not yet ready to do so.
- Summarize and document.
Questions and Answers
Do you have to allow a union representative to be present whenever the employee wants one?
No. A union representative is not appropriate in meetings such as those to give work assignments, coaching sessions, performance evaluation discussions or staff meetings. However, employees have a right to have a representative present if they reasonably believe that disciplinary action will result from a meeting.
Who represents you as the supervisor?
In grievance meetings, or in meetings with groups of employees and union representatives, a Labor/ Employee Relations Analyst from Human Resources will represent the University. For other circumstances, consult your L/ER Analyst.
How many union representatives may participate in a meeting?
Normally only one representative is allowed to participate in a meeting between you and an employee. However, an additional representative may be present in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.
Note:
Questions regarding employee representation rights should be directed to your Labor/ Employee Relations Analyst.