Tips and guides on investigating and preparing grievances, defending yourself against management, and using information and workers’ legal rights to beat the boss.
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Grievance Basics
Hey! The Boss Is Calling Me Into the Office
In many workplaces, harassment on the shop floor is backed up by the threat of being written up or sent into the office.Tips for Writing Grievances
Writing an effective grievance is the first step to winning and the foundation for your case. Avoid common mistakes with these Teamster Grievance Writing Tips.Investigating Grievances
A winning grievance starts with a good investigation. If you don’t have your facts straight, management will shoot down your case.Defend Yourself With Information From Your Boss
Using your union's legal right to acquire information from the employer can help you defend your rights and win grievances and arbitration.The Grievance Meeting: How to Present a Grievance to Management
The first stages of filing a grievance can be the most important, no matter what kind of grievance procedure your contract contains.Teamster Grievance Quiz
Do you have what it takes to turn a workplace problem into a winning grievance?Filing NLRB Charges: A Tool for Rights But No Quick Fix
One of the main laws that protect the union rights of workers in the U.S. is the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It applies to most private sector workers. -
Disciplinary Cases
Hey! The Boss Is Calling Me Into the Office
In many workplaces, harassment on the shop floor is backed up by the threat of being written up or sent into the office.Dealing with Discipline for Absenteeism
When it comes to defending members, write-ups for absenteeism is one of the most common problems stewards have to deal with.Using 'Just Cause' to Win Grievances
Understanding 'Just Cause' can help protect Teamsters from discipline or discharge.The Seven Tests for Just Cause
Most Teamster contracts protect workers from termination except for “just cause.”Steward's Corner: Last Chance Agreements
What should a fired member do if management offers them a “Last Chance Agreement” as a condition for getting their job back?How to Win a Disparate Treatment Case
One of the most powerful arguments a union can make against unfair discipline is disparate treatment. -
Management Tactics
Hey! The Boss Is Calling Me Into the Office
In many workplaces, harassment on the shop floor is backed up by the threat of being written up or sent into the office.The Grievance Meeting: How to Present a Grievance to Management
The first stages of filing a grievance can be the most important, no matter what kind of grievance procedure your contract contains.Beating Management at the Grievance Game
How to protect members and enforce the contract when management is trying to derail the grievance procedure.Dealing with Difficult Supervisors
Supervisors have different strategies to try to put stewards off, trip you up or get around the contract. There's no one-size-fits-all strategy for dealing with difficult supervisors. But being prepared can help you feel more confident, be more effective and avoid getting caught off guard. -
Contract Cases
Investigating Grievances
A winning grievance starts with a good investigation. If you don’t have your facts straight, management will shoot down your case.Defend Yourself With Information From Your Boss
Using your union's legal right to acquire information from the employer can help you defend your rights and win grievances and arbitration.How to Think Like an Arbitrator
Thinking like an arbitrator will help you win your contract language grievances even if you don’t go to arbitration. -
FMLA
Your Rights Under the FMLA
Management often gives workers a hard time when we ask for a leave to take care of our medical needs or our families.New FMLA Rules May Bar Employers From Burning Vacation Leave
What is the most disliked rule in the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)? Undoubtedly, the provision that allows employers to substitute workers’ vacation leaves during FMLA absences.Protect Yourself with Intermittent Leave
Warehouse jobs are brutal. Production standards and mandatory overtime take a toll on our bodies.Labor Department Tightens FMLA Restrictions
Just four days before George Bush left office, the Department of Labor put new regulations for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) into effect.Can an Employer Demand a Medical Release for FMLA Leave
An employer may not insist that the employee sign a release or HIPAA authorization allowing it to send a certification directly to a provider. -
Stewards Rights
Defend Yourself With Information From Your Boss
February 1, 2013: Using your union's legal right to acquire information from the employer can help you defend your rights and win grievances and arbitration.