harassment and company policy violation

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unionworker

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i am an electrical apprentice, and my boss has been harassing/intimidating me lately. the latest happened during my break while i was eating. my boss came up and asked how me and my assigned journeyman were coming on the job. i respectfully informed him that the job was coming along well, we just had a few loose ends to tie up. most likely would finish up before the end of the day. he said ok, but then turned, looked at the clock and asked what time we had come in for break. i replied that if he had a question to that reguard, he should take it up with my journeyman, as i as the apprentice have no control over such situations per the terms of my apprenticeship. he continued to bother me and i again informed him that i did not want to be dragged into an arguement between him and my journeyman. i informed him that if he had a problem with this that he should see my union counsel.

ten minutes later i was approached my my union representation. he informed me that i was going to receive disiplinary action against me for refusal to answer a question. he further proceeded to inform me that he did not want any input on my part, that he would take care of it.

the next day, i was called into my bosses office and informed that i was going to have the written diciplinary action dropped to a written counseling.

i was very displeased with this outcome and feel that i was not properly represented. i find out later tha tmy union steward happens to be drinking buddies with my boss outside of work.

so i contacted another union steward who suggested that i file a formal harassment complaint against my boss with human resources. i made my conplaint with them, and informed them that i wished only to have the incident documented and i did not wish to pursue any action at this point.

i have documented all the times that my boss has physically harassed, verbally harassed/intimidated and all witnesses that were present. i have abided to all the company proceedures and have constantly informed the union of all the events taking place.

my problem lies in the fact that the head union greivance steward is a bought man. i have overheard from managment members that i am to be terminated from the company.

should i trust in the union to take care of this harassment/intimidation, or should i hire an attorney, as i have my family to provide for and possibly thirty plus years to work?
 
Given that nothing illegal has transpired; that nothing in your post meets the legal definition of illegal harassment or intimidation and given that you were insubordinate, I'd stick with the union. If there is a violation of your CBA, they can take care of it for you. Otherwise, you've got zip.
 
Based on your post, the disciplinary write-up was downgraded to a warning. The reduction in the level of punishment does not at all suggest the union representative is "bought" or otherwise corrupted by management.

I would suggest you keep your powder dry and remain watchful. If anything untoward happens to you in the future, you should petition the union to file a grievance on your behalf.

As an aside, you have not described anything your supervisor has done which could be considered "harassing," even under a layman's definition of the word. Your supervisor quizzed you about a project and a break. You inexplicably decided not to respond to his seemingly legitimate queries. He wrote you up. The union intervened. The write up was reduced in terms of disciplinary severity. Your supervisor may be a [glass bowl]. But, neither he nor anyone in the union apparently violated the collective bargaining agreement specifically or the law generally here.
 
You were willfully insubordinate and received punishment, why are you complaining? Oh, I know, because you thought being in a union meant you could be a smart ass. In the future, I suggest you learn the application of Weingarten Rights and exercise them to protect yourself from any unwarranted management attacks. I also suggest you lose the attitude and realize your job is to work with management to effectively complete projects in accordance with your collective bargaining agreement, which you should be studying in your spare time.
 
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