CRONA Convention
October 2, 2007

Weingarten Rights was one of the topics discussed at the annual CRONA convention on October 2, 2007 and is the fifth in a series of educational information.

Weingarten Rights: Your Right to Union (CRONA) Representation

If you are called into a meeting with management and you have reason to believe that disciplinary action or other adverse consequences affecting your working conditions may result, you have the right to have a CRONA representative present during this meeting. This right applies to CRONA nurses who are still in their probationary period and CRONA nurses who have completed their probationary period.

Management is not required to inform you of this right. It is your responsibility to request CRONA representation.

CRONA has received information that some managers are telling CRONA nurses who are in their probationary period that they cannot have CRONA representation. This is inaccurate. A CRONA nurse who is in h/her probationary period does not have the right to the grievance process as outlined in the CRONA contract. But, the nurse has the right to have CRONA representation as provided by the Weingarten Rights. These rights are guaranteed by the federal and National Labor Relations Act.

You cannot have a CRONA representative present at any meeting you have with management. You can have a CRONA representative only when you have a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequences may result from what you say in such a meeting.

If you are called to management’s office to discuss your conduct or behavior, you cannot refuse to go to the office. When the actual interview begins, you can request CRONA representation. Only if a supervisor makes clear in advance that s/he intends to conduct an investigatory interview can you request before the meeting for CRONA representation.

You do not have the right to chose which CRONA representative will represent you.

Management does not have the right to appoint a CRONA representative to represent you.

CRONA appoints the representative who will represent you.

Not every meeting initiated by management is an investigatory interview. However, if a routine meeting is taking place between you and management, but the nature of the meeting suddenly changes so that you have reason to believe that discipline or other adverse consequences may result, you have the right to stop the meeting and call in a CRONA representative. You cannot be punished for requesting CRONA representation.

You have the right to know the nature of the meeting.

Weingarten Rights apply to telephone interviews if you fear possible discipline or other adverse consequences related to your employment.

If you are called to a meeting with management or called on the phone, ask what the meeting or call is about. Before you are asked questions state “if this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I request to have a CRONA representative present.”

If management gives you assurance that a meeting will not be used for further discipline, you do not have a right for CRONA representation. In this instance, obtain a signed statement from management stating that the meeting will not be used for future disciplinary actions before answering questions.

If you are in a meeting and you request CRONA representation, management must choose from among three options:
1. Grant your request and delay questioning until a CRONA representative arrives and has a chance to consult privately with you; or
2. Deny your request to have CRONA representation and end the interview immediately; or
3. Give you a choice of having the interview without CRONA representation. We advise you to refuse this option.

If you request CRONA representation and management denies you such representation and management still asks you questions, management has committed an unfair labor practice and you have the right to refuse to answer. Call the CRONA office immediately.

CRONA encourages you to assert your Weingarten Rights. The presence of CRONA can help in many ways. For example:
1. CRONA can give you support during a stressful situation.
2. CRONA can help raise extenuating factors.
3. CRONA can advise you against blindly denying everything, therefore giving the appearance of dishonesty and guilt.
4. CRONA can serve as a witness to prevent management from giving a false account of the conversation.

Your CRONA card summarizes these rights. Please refer to it as needed.
Call the CRONA office if you need a CRONA card.

Sunny Balson, Secretary
On behalf of the CRONA Executive Board

Attachments posted to website
Letter regarding the 2007 Elections from the Ballot and Election Committee
Click here for 2007 CRONA Educational Scholarship Criteria
Click here for 2007 CRONA Educational Application