Our local 3943 is moving in a new direction and will be consolidated into AFGE Local 1061. Please rest assured that Local 1061 has many years of representing Veterans Affairs employees and has a long history of advocating for federal workers. More information about this exciting prospect to follow as it becomes available.
During this transition, all your rights as a represented union worker still apply. Should you need assistance or are called to a meeting with management or supervisor please remember to invoke your Weingarten rights. You have to actively assert your Weingarten Rights for the rights to apply. Please read the following statement if called to a meeting by management: If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my union representative or steward be present at this meeting. Until my representation arrives, I choose not to participate in this discussion.
If you do not request this right out loud in these words, you could face an unfair disadvantage if your union rep is not there to assist you. After reading this statement management must give you the union representation you have requested before proceeding. If the management personnel in charge fails to provide you with your union rep after your invoke your Weingarten rights, they have committed an unfair labor practice that can have legal consequences and your union rep can potentially use to mitigate adverse actions taken by management.
Remember to invoke all your rights as a worker, even as we transition into a new organization. We look forward to representing more workers in this new phase of our union. Thank you as always for allowing us to work for you.
Gary Locken VP for the Northern Clinics Local 3943 and Webmaster. Signing off of now, at least in my current form. I hope to keep working on your behalf and it has been a pleasure serving you.