The IBEW represents approximately 750,000 active members and retirees who work in a wide variety of fields, including utilities, construction, telecommunications, broadcasting, manufacturing, railroads and government.
Legal basis: The rights were established by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1975 case NLRB v. J. Weingarten.
Who they protect: They apply to unionized employees during investigatory interviews.
What is an investigatory interview? This is a meeting where a supervisor questions an employee to get information that could be used for disciplinary action, or to ask the employee to defend their conduct.
What should you do?
Make the request: If you believe the interview could lead to discipline, you must affirmatively request union representation.
Use a prepared statement: A helpful statement is: "If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative be present".
Know your rights: Your representative can be present to act as an observer, help with communication, and provide support.
Your representative can speak: Your representative has the right to participate in the meeting.
We are committed to improving the lives of our members through the strength of collective action and by ensuring that leaders in the legislative and political spheres understand and support the issues that matter most to us.
Stay informed with the latest updates from the IBEW Local 36. Follow the IBEW on social media for additional news and insights.