So I am understanding correctly: No one at a union shop ever gets fired? And no one at a union shop ever gets fired because a fellow employee (and union member) ratted them out for some violation? Union guys are just as much of an opportunist and snake as the next guy.
The name at the bottom of the paper I am using here is Cleary & Josem LLP
RULES GOVERNING MEMBER v. MEMBER CHARGES
Under the National Labor Relations Act, a distinction is made between union action taken because an employee, upon request, gives information to his or her employer. In particular, where an employee initiates a report to management regarding another employee's misconduct in an entirely voluntary way, and the report is the first information management has of the events in question, internal union action against the member (such as bringing the member up on charges and fining the member under the Union Constitution) is permitted. ON the other hand, a union may not take action against a member because the member cooperates with the grievance machinery. COoperation with the grievance machinery, in the view of the NLRB, includes the giving of a statement to the employer, at the employer's request, when the employee knows that the statement may be used as a basis for discipline by the employer of another employee.
In light of the above,
1) A Union may NOT take action against a member because the member testifies against another member in an arbitration hearing;
2) A Union may NOT take action against a member because the member gives a written or oral statement at the request of the Employer in support of the employer's disciplinary action against another member,
3) A Union MAY take action against a member for intiating a report to the employer regarding another employee's misconduct in an entirely voluntary way, and the report is the first information management has of the events in question;
4) A Union MAY take action against a member for reporting to a supervisor that another member reporting to a supervisor that another member had an alcoholic beverage at his/her work station;
5) A Union MAY take action against a member for giving perjured testimony at an arbitration hearing, BUT ONLY where the perjury has been established by a forum other than the internal union procedure (such as Court).
FINALLY, EVEN IF THE UNION IS PERMITTED TO TAKE ACTION (SUCH AS BY FINING THE MEMBER), THE UNION MAY NOT AFFECT THE EMPLOYEE'S JOB.
