Unions expand your rights and protections. Unions do this by informing members of their rights and options around workplace matters, fighting for stronger legislation to protect worker rights, and organizing workers to use people power to defend ourselves and the work we do.

Many of our rights and protections can be found in our contract. For the latest version and any MOUs with the District, you can go to our contract page. Other rights are contained in labor and education codes and administered and enforced through the Public Employee Relations Board.

One of the most basic rights that have been negotiated is the right to have a coworker or union representative present during a meeting with a supervisor. Sometimes known as “Weingarten rights,” this right fundamentally changes the power imbalance between you and your supervisor. If a supervisor asks you attend a meeting or hearing, you have the right to:

• Know what the meeting is about.
• Request a union representative to be present with you.
• Reschedule the meeting until a union representative can accompany you.
• Consult with your union representative before the meeting begins.

If your supervisor insists that you attend a meeting without representation, you can listen, take notes, and then read the following:

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 or officer be present at this meeting. Without union representation, I choose not to answer any questions.

If you have questions about this right, please talk with your division union representative or our office.