1. An employee leaves a meeting where she's just signed a confession that she's embezzled company funds, comes straight to your desk (interrupting your work, of course), and says she's got nothing to worry about because the company never told her that she had a right to union representation.

You advise her to start checking the Help Wanted ads.

This is good stewardly advice.

2. An employee is called in to the boss's office to be handed, and to sign for, a warning letter on tardiness.

He has a right to union representation.

3. An employee is directed to take a polygraph (lie detector) test.

She has a right to union representation.

4.An employee is called at home on her day off by a company representative is asked if she happens to know where the missing $850.000 from the petty cash box is.

She has a right to union representation.

5. An employee is called in to explain why he is often seen leaving the men's room with a duffle bag, and why there never seems to be any toilet paper or soap available.

The supervisor says there's no right to have a second steward present, since the employee being called in is himself a steward.

6. A 20-year employee with a string of merit raises is called in to discuss an annual performance review.

He has a right to union representation.

7. An employee -- believing a supervisor's questions may result in discipline -- requests a steward before answering questions.

The supervisor may write the employee up for insubordination and call the next higher manager in to require the emmployee to answer questions.