Radio Free Asia Guild Unit -- News

Included in the tentative agreements were Guild Shop, Dues Checkoff, Grievance, Arbitration, Discipline, Management Rights and No Strike/No Lockout.

The agreements on the Grievance, Arbitration and Discipline articles will – for the first time – protect RFA employees from arbitrary or unfair discharge and other discipline, and for the first time guarantee them a right to have their disputes with management decided by an independent arbitrator.

“Having a right to challenge management actions through a grievance and arbitration system is one of the biggest benefits of union representation,” said Paul Reilly, the Guild’s chief negotiator. “It’s one of the biggest differences between a non-union workplace and a unionized one,” he added.

The Discipline Article requires just cause for any discipline, and requires progressive discipline except in the most serious cases.

“It was important to us to have in writing exactly how discipline can be carried out,” said RFA Unit Vice Chair Hong Liu. “And it was just as important that we be able to challenge any discipline we feel is unjust.”

The Guild Shop agreement will greatly strengthen the Guild by requiring all those who benefit from Guild representation to pay their fair share. Dues Checkoff allows employees to have their dues deducted directly from their paychecks.

The Management Rights Article is standard language in most contracts and simply restates what the law already says, i.e. except as limited by the contract, management has the right to manage the business as it sees fit.

The No Strike/No Lockout Article also is standard. It bars RFA employees from striking during the term of the agreement and bars RFA from locking out employees during the agreement.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for Wednesday, December 3.

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