ShimanoDobynsGuy Posted May 2, 2014 Posted May 2, 2014 Yes I want to get advice. Keep in mind I am a very strong UAW worker union member..There is guy at work who comes in every morning after drinking all night he may definitely still intoxicated.. He has almost got people hurt twice now.. And today dropped a 4,000 lb D11 fender from a overhead crane. Luckily my other brother and sisters were not underneath or it would seriously hurt or could of killed one of them.. The reason I'm posting this I am the union Stewart and don't want to call the hall or say anything until I know for sure how I want to handle it.. I have other Co workers coming to me and telling me about the situation.. Again I am 4th generation union worker and have been in the union since I was 19.. Besides having to put my dog down 3 weeks ago I think this is the hardest thing I have had to deal with. So I come here to post just to get some advice from people who don't know.. Just so you no I have tried talking to this guy several times... And he was moved out of my section so I figured I wouldn't have to deal wit it any longer.. So anyway any advice is welcome hopefully some other union brothers and sisters will speak up.. Thanks
Super User aavery2 Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 Turn it over to the Supervisor / Manager of the area, they are trained to deal with these type of situations. Do it anonymously if it makes you feel better. I understand the whole union thing and all, but ask yourself what is going to make you feel worse, asking someone to check it out, or him possibly hurting or killing yourself or another of your co-workers. This is a no brainer. 1
Super User slonezp Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 If he had killed someone would you feel differently? I'm a UA Pipefitter. From personal experience my shop has worked with employees with either drinking or drug issues and gone as far as getting them into rehab. The union does not tolerate working while intoxicated, but will allow the member to make things right. You need to live with your conscience. Â
Super User Root beer Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 Union or no union, it sounds like this guy going get someone kill. Tell the proper chain of command and take proper action, even if it means getting him fired.
Super User K_Mac Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 I would take it to the union steward. He has the responsibility of getting this handled in a way that will protect all involved. ignoring it is not an option. It is only a matter of time before something serious happens and then the die may be cast...your co-worker needs help before it is too late. Good luck.
Super User aavery2 Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 I would take it to the union steward. He has the responsibility of getting this handled in a way that will protect all involved. ignoring it is not an option. It is only a matter of time before something serious happens and then the die may be cast...your co-worker needs help before it is too late. Good luck.He mentions in the original post, that he is a Union Stewart.
ShimanoDobynsGuy Posted May 2, 2014 Author Posted May 2, 2014 I am the Stewart.. And I can tell you that if I take it to the hall. They are gonna tell me that he has to ask for help or there is nothing they can do. Been down that road already.. The company I work for is in the top 50 of the world.. And all they care about is the almighty dollar. Now we do have a policy on drugs. First dirty drop is 30 days off with out pay and rehab. But according the contract as far as alcohol goes it's very Grey area.. And basically says 0 tolerance.. I am running for the committee men spot next month. And I don't want people to think I'm a rat.. So it's clouding my head. As a Christian I no I should tell the section Manger or HR. But as a union man its telling me to keep my mouth shut.. If you haven't been in a union before you don't have any idea what it's like as far as brotherhood goes. I have strikes with allot of these guys and it can get nasty.. My own blood is telling me to keep my mouth shut.. But morally I feel as I need to say something before someone is hurt or killed. Like I said it's hard to understand my dad never crossed the line stayed on strike for 2 years is well known around here. And he won't even talk to my father in law cause he is a scab in his eyes. And my dads father in law only had 8 months left till he retired. Is why he crossed he risked loosing everything if he stayed out.. If ya catch my drift
Super User K_Mac Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 He mentions in the original post, that he is a Union Stewart.  I overlooked that. Thanks for pointing it out.  As the steward you have a responsibility to everyone of the workers in your care IMO. That includes your drunken member. I think you have to tell him that unless he asks for help it is only a matter of time before management gets involved and you're unable to help him. That may not be comfortable, but what choice do you have? 1
Super User Teal Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 Its like this.... He's got to go. He gotta go somewhere, wheather its home for two weeks, go to rehab, or fired...he's gotta go. There's no place for it. Go to your supervisor. Its a fine line. I would even get one of his close friends to talk to him and let him know that he can go to the front office and admit he has a problem and needs help. If your company is like many here, he can do that and the company will get him help. Work places are unsafe enough, there is no place for it. I have fired guys for having on their breath... Find a way to get help or get rod of him
stk Posted May 2, 2014 Posted May 2, 2014 I understand you're probably feeling guilty about this, but it's pretty clear cut. If you caught it early and said something to him (like the first time he did it) then he could probably have done something about it. But it's too far along now, other people have noticed and it's a time bomb waiting to go off. Talk to the manager or whomever, you're doing the drunk guy a favor before he kills/hurts someone.
Super User Root beer Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 This is why people hate unions. You rather protect the guy because of brotherhood? What happens if this guys kills one of your "brother" because you didn't take proper action? I suppose you rather deal with lawsuits and the conscious of letting a potential family live without a husband just to protect your brotherhood. Total moronic if you want to know. 9
Super User slonezp Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 Plus, if something horrible happens and it gets out that you, being the steward, knew something and did nothing, you may have some legal issues to contend with. 2
Super User slonezp Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 This is why people hate unions. You rather protect the guy because of brotherhood? What happens if this guys kills one of your "brother" because you didn't take proper action? I suppose you rather deal with lawsuits and the conscious of letting a potential family live without a husband just to protect your brotherhood. Total moronic if you want to know. This doesn't need to turn into a union hate thread.
Super User Teal Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 Screw being a rat... Being drunk at work is crossing the line. That is a violation that is beyond help. We are not talking smoking in non smoking areas or having your phone out, this guy has had two working incident that involve accidents and you said he is OBVIOUSLY drunk or impaired... Not cool. That in and of it self is a violation that I do not even think about turning my hack on... Dude either goes to rehab or to unemployment
Super User K_Mac Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 This is why people hate unions. You rather protect the guy because of brotherhood? What happens if this guys kills one of your "brother" because you didn't take proper action? I suppose you rather deal with lawsuits and the conscious of letting a potential family live without a husband just to protect your brotherhood. Total moronic if you want to know. Â Rootbear some people hate unions for many reasons. There is no need to attack the OP or unions in general. I have been on both sides of the line, and there are plenty of morons in both camps.
Super User Root beer Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 I always believe unions are as good as the people who runs it, base on the OP story, sounds like a crappy one. Not turning it into a anti-union thread, the OP giving a lot of public ammos for those who do. My dad would had that guy fired already... My dad takes too much pride in his work, anyone that hinders it like the OP's co-worker are out the door if they don't correct their behaviors. Being a boss comes great responsibility, people going hate you along the way. If you can't handle that, well don't be one. There a bigger picture here than a simple brotherhood.
ShimanoDobynsGuy Posted May 2, 2014 Author Posted May 2, 2014 Thanks guys and I'm not trying to turn this into union non union thing. The union has helped in making a nice living for me and my family. There are not many jobs out there that are non union that pay 27.00 a hr and have the benefits and health insurance I have. But trust me the company I work for can afford to pay us we are the ones making them all there money.. They made 18 billion last year alone. And that is all profit after there costs
Super User Teal Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 How much of that profit will go to the family if one of the employees gets killed behind this guy.... Do something with him. I would be very aggressive on this issue.. union or not, handle it. You have knowledge of the situation and are in a position that has the responsibility for it. Handle it before an employee gets hurt or killed. 1
Super User K_Mac Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 ABG saying you do not want to make this into a union/non-union thing, and then justifying your pay and benefits based on the profits of your company are at odds IMO. Every job has a certain value. Once you go far beyond that value it is not in the interests of your company or its stockholders, and it is just a matter of time before you price yourself out of work. It is absolutely critical that your company make money on your labor, and most unions and union members know that they are in a partnership with the company. The notion of us versus them is no longer a working model. Back on topic, it is for this reason that you have to intervene with your troubled worker. 1
Super User Root beer Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 How much of that profit will go to the family if one of the employees gets killed behind this guy.... Do something with him. I would be very aggressive on this issue.. union or not, handle it. You have knowledge of the situation and are in a position that has the responsibility for it. Handle it before an employee gets hurt or killed. This is what I'm trying say. Unions and brotherhood bs aside, you can't ignore or protect him. You already admitted to being fully aware of his intoxication and nearly getting someone killed. Sorry, but you got man up and do what best for the company as a whole. I've heard countless of stories by my dad, who was a production line boss, about people he had get rid of to keep the company going. The people above him rewarded him for it.
RighteousFishing WI Posted May 2, 2014 Posted May 2, 2014 Being a rat is never good, but in this situation you have to say something, you wont be able to live with yourself if someone gets hurt or killed. Back in high school a kid told me he was going to SHOOT UP the high school come Monday..... I figured he was joking and it turned out he was, but my conscience was eating at me over the weekend thinking what if he actually did, and I could have stopped him. I got ahold of the principal during the weekend come Monday morning cops were outside waiting for him.
Super User Teal Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 Being a Stewart or a manager, foreman, supervisor or whatever is not about popularity or keeping traditions of a brotherhood. It about taking care of your employees and keeping them safe...making sure they are working safe and making safe practices. You want to be known as the man that will make the hard decisions to keep the safe. 3
Super User Lund Explorer Posted May 2, 2014 Super User Posted May 2, 2014 Yes I want to get advice. Keep in mind I am a very strong UAW worker union member..There is guy at work who comes in every morning after drinking all night he is definitely still intoxicated.. He has almost got people hurt twice now.. And today dropped a 4,000 lb D11 fender from a overhead crane. Luckily my other brother and sisters were not underneath or it would seriously hurt or could of killed one of them.. The reason I'm posting this I am the union Stewart and don't want to call the hall or say anything until I know for sure how I want to handle it.. I have other Co workers coming to me and telling me about the situation.. Again I am 4th generation union worker and have been in the union since I was 19.. Besides having to put my dog down 3 weeks ago I think this is the hardest thing I have had to deal with. So I come here to post just to get some advice from people who don't know.. Just so you no I have tried talking to this guy several times... And he was moved out of my section so I figured I wouldn't have to deal wit it any longer.. So anyway any advice is welcome hopefully some other union brothers and sisters will speak up.. Thanks  Let's go through all of this again.  Question #1 - Are you a steward for your shift/area, or are you the head Shop Steward?  Question #2 - The guy drops 4,000lbs from an overhead and nobody from management heard it or asked about it?  Question #3 - Even though the guy doesn't work in your part of the shop anymore, people are still coming to you about the situation?  I may be wrong, but this is what I would do if I were in your shoes. First, tell these other employees who are coming to you that they should g o to management instead. When he gets called onto the carpet, that is when you should be there to help him out. Not just to save his job, but to make him see that he needs to make a choice of where he is going with his life.  Here's the bottom line.  This guy is NOT a drunk. He is an alcoholic, and alcoholism is a disease. The sad truth is that most alcoholics won't face reality until they have hit bottom, and it just may be that the possibility of losing his job could get him to the point where he is willing to change. I would think that if your contract discusses drug abuse, then it should have been clear that alcohol is a drug. Therefore, the company should be willing to help like it was any other drug that was being abused. If as you say this isn't the first time, you can rest assured that it won't be the last. Sooner or later, management will catch on to what is going on and do it's job. Sooner or later, the employees who are complaining to you will realize you aren't. 3
ShimanoDobynsGuy Posted May 2, 2014 Author Posted May 2, 2014 Management did meet with the guy. And obviously nothing was said or done about it. They sent that station home for the day and canceled their over time for for this weekend.. I am the steward for my line he is part of my line but works in another area. We don't have a committee man rite now elections are next month.
ShimanoDobynsGuy Posted May 2, 2014 Author Posted May 2, 2014 I'm I'm going to the hall after work to sit down with the bargaining chairman.. And see what they say.. I'm surprised they didn't tick test him on the spot. But we are so far behind rite now they really didn't handle it well. And plan on doing a safety walk Monday morning..
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