Weingarten Rights

Did you know that as a member of the South Windsor Education Association teacher's union, you are entitled to have representation at certain meetings with administration?

Your Weingarten Rights

Weingarten Rights are named after the 1975 Supreme Court case of National Labor Relations Board vs J. Weingarten, Inc.

Weingarten Rights provide union representation for investigatory interviews. Therefore, every member of SWEA has the right to ask for and expect to have union representation at meetings that meet one or more of the following criteria:

  1. The interview/meeting is requested by your supervisor/administration.
  2. You reasonably believe that the meeting is disciplinary in nature or could jeopardize your job security.
  3. You, the teacher, have requested union representation.

The employer MAY NOT:

  1. Require the Association representative to remain silent throughout the meeting.
  2. Require the Association representative to remain silent until after the employer has finished questioning and eliciting answers from the teacher.
  3. Require the representative to channel his/her questions through the teacher.

Weingarten Rights do not apply to:

  1. Normal, day-to-day, meetings with administration.
  2. Meetings in which the teacher is being given a letter or told of a consequence after the initial interview has taken place and decision has been reached. Sometimes representatives may attend these meetings, but their presence is not guaranteed under Weingarten.