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Who knew politics could be so exciting
Topic Started: Jun 13 2017, 03:39 PM (357 Views)
Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
I'm running for union steward at work. 10 people ran for 2 spots in our department. I won in a 3-way tie, so now there will be a re-vote for the two spots.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Hot damn, Riley! I love it.

Power rocks.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Rainman
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Fulla-Carp
Congratulations, Riley!

I'm not quite sure what it means.

But, good luck with the next vote!
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Copper
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Shortstop

Start kissing those babies.

The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Interestingly, the two I have to re-run against are the only two I was at all worried about not being able to beat, so seems I have a pretty good read on the general population there.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Who do you need to win over to win?
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Mikhailoh
Jun 13 2017, 03:52 PM
Who do you need to win over to win?
Well, one of the guys I'm running against is the incumbent. I think a lot of people particularly newer people will vote for the name they know. Our department is split into two sections and you don't interact as much with people on the other side, so getting to know more people that work over there would help. He works on the other side. I've never actually personally met him. He remains the only acting steward pending the re-vote.

The second spot is currently vacant as the previous steward was just elected chief steward last month. I'm his choice for his replacement which helps me. He can't actively suggest people vote for me but if someone asks who he's voting for or who he would vote for he can certainly answer honestly.

The other guy I'm running against is a lead hand. Different from supervisors (who work directly for the company on salary), a lead hand can not discipline and are more like supervisor assistants and are union members. There was some debate over whether lead hands should be allowed to run. Personally, I feel it should be a corporate position, rather than a union one, but as they are still union members, then I suppose they should be able to run like anyone else.

There is a fair amount of politics there and it's actually fairly interesting. When this plant opened 3 years ago, an older local plant was closed and the ~130 or so employees transferred over to the new plant (which now has 800-900 employees). Those from the old plant have always had the biggest influence on plant politics and most stewards were from the old plant.

These guys campaigned hard against every renegotiation during our contract renegotiations over the past year, due to (real and perceived) grievances against them during their transition to the new plant. Newer employee feel that they were acting as though they should have some special status as veterans of the old plant. Created a lot of division. The new chief beat the old chief, from the old plant by a landslide. Over 40% of the vote in a 12-way race. Almost every steward from the old plant either resigned due to unpopularity or lost in today's elections. :popcorn:
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Just received updated info. It wasn't actually a 3-way tie. Lead hand won the first spot.

Tie is just for the second spot.

I'm now running against the incumbent for that spot.
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brenda
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..............
Go, Riley!

I've always wanted to know a union boss. :)
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Sounds like you already know how to win, or at least you have a lot of insight into the situation. There always comes time for a regime change. The smart money knows when they are the regime that needs changing.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
Good on you for getting involved.
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
What a day.

Mid morning, the chief came down to my hall and tosses me a gold hard hat (signifying union steward) and says "you owe me!"

I was standing there holding the hat with a blank look and he said "I convinced the company to add one more steward to your department so we don't have to do a revote. Since you're by far the biggest department you'll have 3 stewards instead of 2."

Literally ten minutes later I went upstairs to order materials and there was two HR ladies standing there who I've never me before.

One of them sees my shiny new hat I've had for all of 10 minutes and says "Oh, you must be Riley! We need you for an investigation in about 5 minutes."

I was NOT expecting to have to sit in on an investigation 15 minutes after finding out I'd won the election.

It was for a guy who is being investigated for lates. Two years ago he was terminated for attendance and the union was able to fight to get his job back, and since then he has been disciplined many times for lates. He's already had a written warning, verbal warning, 1 day suspension, and 3 day suspension. The 3 day was in April and he's had 4 lates since then. You can be disciplined any time you have more than 3 lates within 3 months. So they are now giving him a 5 day suspension. If he has 3 lates within 3 months again he'll be terminated again.

It was a tense few meetings. I was called back upstairs 3 times within an hour. The third time I saw someone banging on my window and waving me up, I turned to the other guys in my hall and said "is this my life now?" :lol2:
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George K
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Finally
Riley
Jun 14 2017, 02:12 PM
the chief came down to my hall and tosses me a gold hard hat (signifying union steward) and says "you owe me!"
Just you wait... :hat:
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Not even time for a cold one to celebrate!

So what happened to Tardy Tim?
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Disclaimer: I don't have much sympathy for those who don't help themselves.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Catseye3
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Fulla-Carp
Congratulations, I think.

Just remember, my son, to whom much is given, much is expected. :D

I'm curious; you're the lates guy's union rep, yes? So are you obligated to defend him come what may? Or if his behavior is really not defensible, can you throw him under the bus? How do you determine when that time has arrived?

Or in this case, when the guy is a real goofoff, is it your job just to be in the same room, like a defense lawyer, to make sure his rights are honored?

I don't think I'd make a good union rep. :ermm:
Chocolate doesn't ask silly questions. Chocolate understands.
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George K
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Finally
Catseye3
Jun 14 2017, 02:36 PM
I'm curious; you're the lates guy's union rep, yes? So are you obligated to defend him come what may? Or if his behavior is really ot defensible, can you throw him under the bus? How do you determine when that time has arrived?
I was going to ask some similar questions, but you did it better.

At what point does blind allegiance to a union become the norm, even though rules are broken, documented, etc?
Quote:
 
If he has 3 lates within 3 months again he'll be terminated again.
Will the union fight to reinstate his job - again?
A guide to GKSR: Click

"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... "
- Mik, 6/14/08


Nothing is as effective as homeopathy.

I'd rather listen to an hour of Abba than an hour of The Beatles.
- Klaus, 4/29/18
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Mikhailoh
Jun 14 2017, 02:21 PM
Not even time for a cold one to celebrate!

So what happened to Tardy Tim?
He will most likely be getting a week off, and that's as high as the discipline scale goes. If he has 3 lates within 3 months again they are allowed to fire him.

He's arguing that they're unfairly harassing him because most people don't get disciplined for lates. This is true. I'm obviously not stupid enough to say this in a meeting with HR, but if they were to pull up my last 3 months I would have A LOT more than 3 - honestly, probably closer to 50.

The thing is, if the supervisors like you, they're not going to bother you about being a few minutes late. This guys problem is he's very confrontational and can't get along with many people, particularly his supervisors. Yes, they probably are using his lates to try and get rid of him, but that said, he still knows the rules, and has been disciplined for this 4 times already. I can't imagine ever getting to that stage. If I were to ever get disciplined for lates I would stop showing up late and that would be that. Some people just don't get it. If you're not an asshole and are on good terms with management, they're not going to come after you for the little things. But if they don't like you, they're going to use the little things against you and they're well within their rights to do so.
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Catseye3
Jun 14 2017, 02:36 PM
Congratulations, I think.

Just remember, my son, to whom much is given, much is expected. :D

I'm curious; you're the lates guy's union rep, yes? So are you obligated to defend him come what may? Or if his behavior is really not defensible, can you throw him under the bus? How do you determine when that time has arrived?

Or in this case, when the guy is a real goofoff, is it your job just to be in the same room, like a defense lawyer, to make sure his rights are honored?

I don't think I'd make a good union rep. :ermm:
A union rep is essentially like a lawyer. I have to represent them to the best of my ability whether I agree with them or not.
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brenda
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..............
Wow, Riley! Congrats and here it goes! Yes, this could be a big part of every day for you. Let's hope it's for cases easier to support than Mr. Tardy.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Rainman
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Fulla-Carp
Congrats, Riley!

The guy being late. Well, that's just a warm-up for the sexual harassment complaints, racism accusations, complaints raised by protected classes, drinking and drug abuse allegations, insubordination, bullying, whistle-blowing, job description issues, etc. etc.

I would guess you have an attorney or two on your speed dial?

Edit (I forgot): have fun!!
Edited by Rainman, Jun 14 2017, 03:04 PM.
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Copper
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Shortstop

Watch out for aqua he doesn't like authority figures.

Congratulations.
The Confederate soldier was peculiar in that he was ever ready to fight, but never ready to submit to the routine duty and discipline of the camp or the march. The soldiers were determined to be soldiers after their own notions, and do their duty, for the love of it, as they thought best. Carlton McCarthy
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
Congratulations, Riley! That is neat, and impressive.

Whatever you'll be doing, it's just gotta be more fun than the regular grind, right?

I think often, people get into management because it's so much more fun to interact with people all day than do actual work.

Never trust anybody who wines about meetings. If everybody hated meetings as much as they say they do, there wouldn't be so many of them.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Riley
Jun 14 2017, 02:42 PM
Catseye3
Jun 14 2017, 02:36 PM
Congratulations, I think.

Just remember, my son, to whom much is given, much is expected. :D

I'm curious; you're the lates guy's union rep, yes? So are you obligated to defend him come what may? Or if his behavior is really not defensible, can you throw him under the bus? How do you determine when that time has arrived?

Or in this case, when the guy is a real goofoff, is it your job just to be in the same room, like a defense lawyer, to make sure his rights are honored?

I don't think I'd make a good union rep. :ermm:
A union rep is essentially like a lawyer. I have to represent them to the best of my ability whether I agree with them or not.
A very wise perception. You will be a fine steward.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Riley
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HOLY CARP!!!
Mikhailoh
Jun 14 2017, 02:21 PM
Not even time for a cold one to celebrate!

So what happened to Tardy Tim?
Had another meeting with him and his supervisor today.

He had a copy of this weeks schedule, showing he didn't have to be in until 7:30 rather than 6:30. So one of the four lates was from this week and taken off. But still leaves 3 lates so he can still be disciplined. The supervisor said "as for the other 3 lates, before his schedule changed and he knew he was expected in at 6:30."

I asked for copies of the schedules from those weeks.

"We don't keep those."

"Why not?"

"Why would I?"

"Um... for situations like this?"

BOOM

I think I got 'em.
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