Most often these are "benefits" that workers take for granted and so were not included in the contract.Įxample: There have always been vending machines in the cafeteria. Independent past practice: This is a practice that is not addressed by any contract language.In most cases an employer must bargain to change the past practice, and they cannot change it if the union doesn’t agree. This is the strongest type of past practice because it is backing-up negotiated language. This past practice now clarifies what the contract means by "reasonable." Every year one steward and the officers get time off to attend the National Union convention. The practice defines the general language.Įxample: The contract language reads, "The company will allow union stewards reasonable time off from work to attend union meetings." The general phrase is "reasonable." For many years the company has allowed stewards to attend monthly union meetings and three times a year the District council meeting. Contract clarifying past practice: These practices come into being when there is contract language that is vague or general.The "contract clarifying past practice" is the strongest type and the "contract conflicting past practice" presents the weakest legal argument. There are three categories of past practice. In some cases management must wait until contract negotiations to change a past practice. In most cases management cannot end a past practice without first bargaining with the union. Since it is part of the contract, grievances can be filed if management violates a past practice. A practice that meets the standards of being a bone fide past practice is considered to be part of the contract. Definition of a past practiceĪ past practice is any long-standing, frequent practice that is accepted and known about by the union and management. It is important that all stewards are aware of the past practices so they can defend them from erosion by management. Stewards need to know what constitutes a valid past practice and what are the past practices in their workplace. One of the powerful tools that each steward has in their Stewards Toolkit is the use and understanding of past practices. Understanding and Defending Past Practices at Work.
#A steward for every occasion how to
and how to use the grievance system to defend them. Its important for each steward to be familiar with the practices of the workplace.One of the most powerful tools at a stewards disposal in defending members rights and working conditions at work is the concept of past practice.
0 kommentar(er)
