All new bargaining unit employees should receive an orientation by the Union Stewards within a week or so of entering on duty.  The purpose of the orientation is to explain to the employees the role of the Union in the workplace.  Basically, you are describing to the employee who we are and what we do.  Without the orientation, the employees may not know what the Union does, how to contact the Union for assistance, or even that there is a Union!  Article 10, Section 3 of the contract states:  

A representative of the Union shall be afforded a reasonable period of time to speak at group orientation sessions, where scheduled, or otherwise to each new employee, to provide unit employees with an introduction to the role of the Union .  

There will be no solicitation of membership or union dues withholding during the Union presentation.  

The last sentence of that quote is key: we may not solicit membership during the orientation.  Soliciting Union membership must be done on personal, non-work time, such as during a break or lunch.  The orientation can be scheduled to end at the start of a lunch period or break so that a new employee can be invited to join the Union during the proper time period.  For more information on recruiting new members, see Chapter 5.   

Below is an agenda for how you can conduct the orientation.  Using different media can be an effective way to communicate.  The website is filled with information about the Union, so showing it to the new employees (via a projector hooked up to an internet-connected computer) helps direct them to answers to questions that may come up during and after the orientation. 

Even better is a PowerPoint presentation linked below that Union Stewards can use for the orientation.  

Who can attend?  It should go without saying that managers/supervisors/operation officer/secretary/etc. (anyone not part of the bargaining unit) SHOULD NOT attend the orientation.  If you have a Management official who wants to attend, politely explain that this is not the normal protocol for the orientation, as some employees might feel intimidated.  If a Management official insists on attending, postpone the orientation and contact the nationwide Union officers (Union President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Chief Steward).  

How much time?  For a full orientation, it is suggested that you request 1.5 hours of time for the employees to attend.  It may take less time if you are not going to use the DVD or other materials, or if you have a small group, or if there are very few questions.  If you have a large group of employees, you may need to talk to Management about splitting them into more manageable numbers and conduct multiple sessions (this has been done before in some offices).  If you run into any disputes over how much time you will need, contact the nationwide Union officers.  

No orientation?  Some offices have in the past not always consistently conducted orientations (which was the motivation for creating this chapter!), and some have had months- or even years-long delays in arranging orientations.  Remember, even during the very busiest time periods, when new employees come on board they are given a great deal of introductory information (health insurance, office policy, TSP, etc.) and learning about the Union is no less important.  Insist that the orientations be held.  If you run into any problems, contact the nationwide Union officers.  

Is the orientation optional?  The answer is "no".  The Union has a contractual right to provide the orientation to the employees.  If a new employee does not wish to attend the orientation he/she must still attend.  This is important for the employee to learn about his/her rights. 

How is the orientation different than a membership drive?  The purpose of the orientation is to explain the role of the Union to the employees so that they are aware of their rights and aware that the Union is a resource for employees.  The orientation covers "representational issues" (see Chapter 9).  In contrast, a membership drive is an effort by the Union to recruit employees to join the Union.  This is "internal Union business" and may cover internal Union business topics such as benefits to joining the Union.  Employees are NOT required to attend membership drives (see Chapter 5), which must be held on personal/non-work time.  

Details 

Time needed: approximately 1.5 hours  

Equipment: computer with internet connection, DVD player, projection screen, projector  

Materials: handout, contract, amendments to the contract, FSLMRS

Handout: click on this link for a handout for Union information that you can give to the new employee(s) at the orientation 

PowerPoint Presentation: Secretary-Treasurer Jennifer Gile developed a PowerPoint presentation to be used at the orientation: Orientation 2008-03 

Agenda:

Updated 3-14-2009