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Always be
honest. Never lie to or mislead anyone for any reason. Once
you compromise your integrity, you can't get it back.
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Never tell a
union member to lie or intentionally mislead any authority. We are
federal officers; there is no excuse for lying.
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Always act in
a professional business like manner. Conducting union business is
just that: business.
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Always be
aware of a possible conflict of interest. Union representatives
should never represent themselves or any issues in which they may be
personally involved in.
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If a member
asks you a question and you are unsure of the answer, be honest.
Tell him or her that you will find the right answer.
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Do not place
your trust blindly. Trustworthiness must be earned through consistent
follow-through on commitments.
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Take advantage
of the knowledgeable, experienced people in the Union. They are very
familiar with many of the situations you will encounter, and can save
you the pains and troubles that often result from reinvention.
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Surround
yourself with all types of people, including those who disagree with
your views. The consideration of different points of view is an
important part of the decision-making process.
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Confide only
in those you feel you can trust. Remember that anything you say can come
back to haunt you.
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Do not make
decisions in anger. Always seek a second opinion.
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Be suspicious,
but respectful of management; thoroughly analyze their possible
motivation.
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Remind
employees that their statements and memos are frequently used against
them, and to constantly be on their guard in their dealings with
management.
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Keep a copy of
all correspondence that you generate and receive. Whenever you
hand-deliver anything, have a copy stamped or signed for your files,
proving delivery.
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Copy all
policy memoranda that the Agency issues, and keep them in your filing
system. These often prove very useful.
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Never meet
with management by yourself. The recollections of two or more witnesses
is far more persuasive than that of an individual.
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Regardless of
your personal feelings, remember that you represent the interests of the
entire bargaining unit.
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Pay attention
to everyone who speaks up at a Union meeting. Most people are there only
to listen. Those who speak up may be willing to get involved.
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Delegate. Ask
for help. The natural tendency is to let someone else handle the work.
Don’t be shy about admitting that there is too much work for one person.
There are any number of things that people can do to help, not all of
which involve confrontation with management. Take advantage of the
skills and talents of the membership.
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Recognize
those who assist. All of us are volunteers. Praise and encouragement are
often the only motivational tools we can offer. Dispense them liberally.
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Keep
meticulous records of all of your dealings with management and of
internal Union business.
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Don’t be
afraid to ask questions.
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Do not be
intimidated by management’s fear tactics.
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If you are not
sure about whether management’s actions violate the contract or law, ASK
someone who knows.
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Beware of
divide and conquer tactics.
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The Local
President should also coordinate all of the bargaining in the Sector.
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Record and
keep contemporaneous notes of all conversations or encounters with
management. Include names, dates, times, places, and verbatim
quotations, if possible. These notes will add immensely to your
credibility if a matter is presented to a third party.
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Don’t be
afraid to request sufficient official time to perform representational
functions. If the Agency refuses to grant the requests, coordinate the
filing of a grievance with your Local.
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Do not abuse
official time. If you are done using official time, you should
return to work.
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Don't be
afraid to call the Local President.
