From Allison Dubarry's Fact or Fiction column in Steel Drum

Got a question - who are you going to call - the Union or HR?

If I have a question about the collective agreement or my rights, I should ask my shop steward or unit chair first, not the Human Resources Department. (FACT).

One of the benefits of being on the negotiating committee has been the marvelous opportunity I've had over the last two months to meet so many members at the lunchtime negotiating committee meetings. They were set up to discuss proposals for the next collective agreement. At these sessions, a number of people have asked, who should they contact first if they have questions about the contract: the Union or HR?

Our collective agreement was the result of negotiations between the Union and the University. The union represented the interests of its members and Labour Relations represented the interests of the employer. It's important to keep in mind that documents, like many things, can be interpreted differently, based on the interests being represented and one's perspective.

If HR interprets a clause in the collective agreement in a certain way, it does not mean that the Union's interpretation of the clause will be the same or that Human Resources interpretation is the correct or definitive interpretation. What makes a collective agreement different than simply a difference of opinion between two groups, is that a grievance process exists as a legal mechanism for deciding what the interpretation should be.

This is one of the most important benefits of being unionized. It is no longer a situation of an individual alone against the management of the University. The union has the resources to make sure that your rights, guaranteed by the collective agreement, are protected

It's important that staff contact their shop steward, unit chair or the union office if they have any questions about the contract or any other policies. Article 7 states that we are entitled to one shop steward for each seventy-five employees and twelve unit chairpersons in the following sectors:

• Arts & Science
• Faculty of Medicine
• Central Administrative Division
• OISE/UT
• Faculty of Dentistry
• University of Toronto Libraries
• University of Toronto at Mississauga
• Professional Faculties South
• Operations and Services
• University of Toronto at Scarborough
• Information Technologies
• Professional Faculties North.

The other units in our local- Casuals, St. Michael's College and Victoria University, have stewards, unit grievors, and chairpersons.

If you are not sure who your shop steward or unit chairperson/grievor is, you can find a complete and up to date list on our local's website (http://www.usw1998.ca/stewards.htm), or you can call the union office at (416) 506-9090. If you've got a question, please don't hesitate to contact your steward, unit chair or the union office. We're there to represent you!