Representation

Local stewards and staff at a grievance training focused on
Layoff and Reduction in Time.  July 2009

Negotiating with the university is just the first step in improving the wages, benefits, and working conditions of lecturers and librarians at UC.  Enforcing the contract is an equally large and difficult task. UC-AFT staff and stewards maintain an extensive working knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of our members as defined by MOUs.  Our representation work relies on the principles of due process and requires an understanding of the concepts of public sector labor law.  Our daily work includes filing requests for information, interpretation of language in our contracts, attending informal meetings and problem solving, filing and handling grievances potentially leading to arbitration, filing unfair labor practices, and occasionally taking legal action.  

Ultimately, effective enforcement of our contracts rests with members, who need to have a basic understanding of the contract to ensure that their rights are upheld.  Please contact your local steward or field representative if you have any questions or concerns about your rights on the job. The full Memorandum of Understanding is linked to left of this article, and you can check out several Know Your Rights columns linked on the right side of this page.

UC-AFT holds representation trainings for staff and stewards a couple times a year.  If you are interested in helping us defend our contracts, and in ensuring fairness for your colleagues, please contact UC-AFT Vice President of Grievances, Alan Karras, about our steward program.