Your Representation Rights

9 May 2008

Over the past month numerous questions have been raised by ASU members regarding the right to have a representative present at meetings with management.

The ASU advises all ASU members to ensure that all meetings with management are held in the presence of one of your local ASU delegates acting as your representative.

EBA 8 states:

15.2 An employee may choose to have an employee representative of their choice, including Union representative, to represent and support them at any stage of the dispute resolution procedure. Any representative nominated by the employee pursuant to this dispute resolution procedure will be allowed, at a place designated by the Company, the necessary time during working hours to support the employee.

You are entitled to choose a representative of your choice as outlined above. Management cannot choose your representative for you or limit your choice to particular employees or supervisors.

A recent event occurred where management requested the nominated representative of an employee to leave during a meeting, as they intended to complete the meeting without the presence of the representative. Clearly this is a breach of the EBA and the ASU are awaiting further action by management to rectify this situation to ensure that this will not occur again.

However, in the event that this happens to you, notify management that you do not want the meeting to continue without your representative. If management refuses your request you are entitled to leave the meeting until it is arranged for your representative to be present. Management cannot force you to continue the meeting without your representative.

A representative has the right to speak on your behalf. The ASU has been advised that management have attempted to limit the input of representatives to a support capacity only. This is a clear breach of the EBA. If this occurs to you during a meeting you are to inform management that you have provided consent for your representative to speak on your behalf and notify the ASU immediately.

It is essential that the ASU is made aware of these instances to ensure that your right to representation is not breached. If you feel that management have not followed the EBA and breached your right to representation please contact one of your local ASU Delegates or your ASU Organiser, Jennifer on 3252 8666.

Also, the ASU is proud to announce that Helen Baulch has been endorsed as an ASU Delegate.

Congratulations!

Download