Rep Duties & Responsibilities

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Attend union meetings to find out what is happening and to participate in.
Greet every new member and welcome him/her/them to your union. The sooner, the better.
Strive for 100% union membership in your work area. Get help from your co-workers to make this happen.
Hold regular meetings, even if it is just an informal brownbag get-together over lunch or coffee. Creating community with co-workers is important.
If you see a violation of the contract or an injustice in the workplace, act on it--do not wait for someone to complain.
Help co-workers find their own solution and voice.
You want to empower and seek out new leaders.
Represent all members fairly. It is not just the right thing to do, it is the law.
Do not hesitate to stand up to management when a violation occurs. You have power, use it.
Be responsible, credible, and a good employee. You are setting an example.
Keep yourself informed on union affairs.
Serve as an example to your members.
Keep the members informed on union policies and union activities.
Attend union meetings and union affairs. Encourage and bring the members from your department. Do not chide members for missing meetings. Think of other ways to communicate with them.
Meet the new members early, inform them, educate them, help them become members--make them more than dues payers.
Get your location to act as a union-have them stick together.
Act as a leader-do not let personal likes or dislikes prejudice your actions as a faculty representative.
Fight discrimination, whether it be overt or very discreet. Discourage prejudice of any kind.
Keep accurate and up-to-date records. Write it down.
Do not promise, if you cannot deliver.
Encourage political action on the part of your members. See to it that they are registered and vote.
Encourage members to exercise their right to vote, and to vote for labor friendly candidates.
Know how to refer to the union contact, by-laws, and constitutions. If you are not sure, seek help so that you can become familiar with the documents.
Encourage and support the union's activities on behalf of organizing the unorganized.
Inform the membership of union services. Encourage them to take advantage of not only the services the union sponsors outright, but those that help the union.
Stand up to, whenever you meet it, the anti-union element. You can best do this by being informed and being dedicated to the labor movement.
Do not hesitate or stall. If you do not know, admit you do not know. Then try to get the answer.
Keep your workers informed on sources of information. Give pertinent information whenever a worker wants it.
In dealing with the management, remember that you are the elected or appointed representative of your fellow members. Never consider yourself to be inferior to management representatives.
Wear your union swag and encourage your coworkers to wear it.
Investigate every grievance/complaint as if it were your own. Keep the member informed. Make sure you keep your deadlines. There is no excuse for missing a time limit.
Research every grievance/complaint and issue as if it were going to arbitration but try to resolve it at the lowest possible level. Keep your local union informed of the status of each grievance/complaint.