Steward Notes: Beware of lone meetings with monster managers

Look, not all managers are evil fire-breathing dragons.

But some of ’em are.

In fact, many maps leading to management offices should be marked “Here Be Dragons,” the way medieval maps were marked to show that ships were heading into dangerous waters.

Because, for union stewards, danger lies inside the manager’s office, especially if you go in there alone.

Remember, you have a team

As a worksite steward, you’re part of a team. That includes your Membership Services Officer (MSO), other stewards, activists, and your elected union representatives, such as your Chapter Chair. 

If you’re called into a meeting with management, you can call on your team members to help you prepare first. 

Why?

Because even the best knight in shining armour carries a shield and sword.

When dealing with management, you may be pressured to make some ill-advised backroom deals.

For example, management is notorious for trying to get stewards to trade grievances. “If you drop the grievance we talked about last week, I’ll let you pursue this one.”

Every member deserves fairness

Every union member deserves to be treated fairly. Each issue and each grievance must be treated on its own merits.

Meeting with management is, of course, not a bad thing in and of itself. But stewards should avoid informal meetings when filing a grievance is the appropriate response to an issue.

The best advice is to never agree to anything with management on your own. Involve your team in any decision and involve them in the meeting whenever possible.

Suspicious minds

When you meet with management alone, others may be suspicious about what’s being said and what deals are being made. 

If you go in alone, the manager might come away with a different recollection or interpretation of what was discussed and decided. 

Alternatively, the manager might change their story or lie about what happened.

This can lead to huge problems for you and your coworkers later down the road.

More importantly, when you meet a manager alone to discuss a grievance or an issue facing a member, you lose an opportunity for members to participate.

It’s this kind of participation that leads members to greater engagement with their union – and to perhaps becoming another member of the worksite steward team!