Your Rights at Work

TNG

LEEWATCH.org  The Guild’s Eye on Lee Enterprises

A Forum for Lee Employees—Sponsored by the St. Louis Newspaper Guild, AFL-CIO, CLC

Links:

 

AFL-CIO

 

American Journalism Review (AJR)

 

Columbia Journalism Review (CJR)

 

Communications Workers of America (CWA)

 

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR)

 

I Want Media

 

Jobs with Justice

 

Journalism & Women Symposium (JAWS)

 

Labor Net

 

Maynard Institute

 

National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ)

 

The National Center For Employee Ownership

 

The Newspaper Guild (TNG)

 

Pantagraphunion.org

 

Poynter Institute

 

St. Louis Newspaper Guild

 

Tribune Watch

 

 

You Have The Legal Right To:

1.  Attend meetings to discuss forming a union with your coworkers.

2.  Read, distribute and discuss union literature (as long as you do this in non-work areas and during non-work times—such as in the break room at lunch)

3. Wear union items (such as buttons, stickers or t-shirts) on the job

4. Sign a card asking your employer to recognize and bargain with your union.

5.  Sign petitions or file grievances related to job issues.

6.  Ask other employees to support the union, to sign union cards or petitions, or to file grievances.

Protection from Employer Action

Under Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act, your employer cannot legally punish or discriminate against any worker because of union activity. 

For example, your employer cannot legally do the following:

¨ Threaten to or actually fire, lay off, discipline, harass, transfer, or reassign employees because they support the union.

¨ Favor employees who don’t support the union over those who do in promotions, job assignments, wages, hours, enforcement of rules, or any other working condition.

¨ Threaten to or actually take away jobs, wages, or any benefits or privileges employees already enjoy in order to discourage union activity. 

¨ Promise employees a pay increase, promotion, benefit, or special favor if they oppose the union.

Enforcing Your Rights

The best way to encourage any employer to recognize your union and negotiate a fair contract is to build a strong, worker-led organization where you work.  Our organizers are working with our committee to do just that.

In addition, organizers, staff representatives and attorneys will help enforce your legal rights at every step of the way. 

You can help protect your legal rights by keeping written notes of any incidents in which company officials or supervisors threaten, harass, or punish workers because of union activity—and immediately report any such incidents to your committee and Guild organizers.