Thirty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court protected unionized workers’ rights to due process during questioning by a supervisor. The case, NLRB v. J. Weingarten defined your Weingarten Rights. If you get called into a meeting with your principal or supervisor for an unspecified reason, it is your right under the law to:

* Ask the principal or supervisor to clarify the reason for the meeting. Don’t refuse to attend, but ask why.
* Get representation. If the meeting becomes disciplinary in nature, you are entitled to call CEA, even if your principal says you shouldn’t.
* Set the meeting at a time when your representative can attend. The administrator is obligated to do so.
* Take up to five school days to schedule the meeting to make sure your representative can be there.

Read Article 404.01. CEA suggests representation any time the purpose of the meeting is for one of the following situations:

* Any type of disciplinary action
* Investigation meeting
* Reprimand
* Infraction of a work rule or board policy
* Questions concerning request or use of sick or personal leave
* Allegations of abuse
* Parental, student or community complaint

Weingarten Rights palm cards will soon be distributed to you by the building faculty representative. If you have further questions, call CEA at 253-4731.