06/09/09-"Let’s Talk"

"STEWARD'S TIP OF THE WEEK"
STEWARDS: DO YOU HAVE A TIP TO SHARE?
June 9, 2009
"Let’s Talk"

These things happen: A manager at one of our worksites was constantly interrupting members with work-related issues during their lunch breaks.

How would you handle that?

Here is how the members at that workplace addressed the problem….

At a regular union meeting with management, Local 509 stewards and other active members simply reminded management that lunch was employee time off the clock and that work-related issues should not be brought into the lunchroom. The interruptions stopped right away.

If your worksite is big enough to make it practical, it is a good idea to have a low-key labor-management meeting once every month or two. This creates a forum to work out problems together, and to bring up other issues in a non-confrontational setting.

If you would like help trying to get labor-management meetings started in your workplace, contact your field rep.

Submitted by John Tortelli, Department of Revenue.