Public Labor Relations Act

The state of Illinois, through the Public Labor Relations Act, gives you the absolute right to:

• Join, or help form, a union.

• Talk about the union on your own time.

• Solicit other employees for union membership during lunch or break-time.

• Distribute literature in non-work areas.

It is illegal for your employer or supervisor to:

• Fire, threaten to fire, demote, transfer, discriminate against or punish employees in any way for union activity.

• Prohibit employees from soliciting co-workers during non-working hours and breaks.

• Ask employees about the union, union meetings, or any other questions pertaining to an employee's union activities or attitudes

• Coerce employees by changing or threatening to change wages, benefits, of other conditions of work because of union activity or support.

• Spy on your union activities.

The Card Question

Q. "If I sign an AFSCME authorization card, will my employer or supervisor know?"

A. NO. The law is clear that they are confidential, and management cannot and will not see them. Employers have attempted to access them and case law has upheld the confidentiality of the cards. They are not viewable even with a subpoena.

Weingarten Rights

Now that our union is certified, we have a new right to go along with all the others.

Weingarten Rights are the right for an employee to have a union representative join them in attending any meeting that they think could lead to disciplinary action.

If being called into a meeting that you think could be disciplinary, ask:

Could this meeting lead to discipline?

If they say yes, say:

I want union representation.

Union Representation

What is a steward?

A member of our union who is trained to represent and defend the interests of fellow members and helps to enforce the contract we negotiate.

What do they do?

Upon Certification - They can sit in on disciplinary meetings upon request of the member being disciplined.

Later - When we have a contract, they will handle grievances (formal complaints) filed by members when their rights in the contract are violated.

How do I become a steward?

If you're interested in signing up for the next introductory steward training, email CODstaffunited@gmail.com. There will be a more in-depth training after our contract is negotiated.