Drunk Co Worker What Do I Do?

[F14A-B]

Idk... It seems like you are stressing more about

Upcoming elections... I understand you're predicament .... It also sounds as if you have very

Little support from the actual contract you all are

Currently dealing with...too bad! Do you're duty...

That's all you can do...

[SirSnookalot]

I must be missing something.  All I see are assumptions that the crane operator was inebriated at the time.  None of the other workers stepped forward and the truck driver didn't witness it either, just passed on second hand information.  Maybe the driver did see, if so the explanation was unclear to me.  What we have is an accident due to either operator error or equipment malfunction, either issue has to be addressed, neither has been confirmed.   I'm taking no sides

[scrutch]

A good leader knows when to step out alone and lead the way.

"In the essentials, unity. In the non-essentials, liberty. In all things, charity." --- St. Augustine

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

I guess some of you havnt read the whole thread i have already reported it to your comon buisness practices anonomously. Now the supervisor will be notified by HR in the morning its up to them to make a case. I have nothing to do with it from here on out. Im hoping that he cleans his act up if not they will be watching him.. I felt this way its off my chest and up to them to make a case.  

[EvanT123]

I must be missing something. All I see are assumptions that the crane operator was inebriated at the time. None of the other workers stepped forward and the truck driver didn't witness it either, just passed on second hand information. Maybe the driver did see, if so the explanation was unclear to me. What we have is an accident due to either operator error or equipment malfunction, either issue has to be addressed, neither has been confirmed. I'm taking no sides

Man oh man a lot of long post here. To much for me to read on the old iphone. Snook is generally spot on so I would agree with what he said. If the guy was drunk or still feeling the after effects. You have to do something about it. Like scrutch said You want to give condolences to a guys wife because you couldn't step up?

I'm no union guy but IMO as a steward your a hair away from management. It's managements job to make sure the job gets done, done right and everyone makes it home. Not win a popularity contest.

Personally I'd rather be a "rat" than do nothing and have that on my conscious.

Quick example. Though not as serious. Used to work at a car dealership; there of course was your shady salesman. On two occasions he was bragging about how he was going to sell old lady's cars without options they wanted. Big ones too four wheel drive and a/c you know what I did told the sales manager.

You have to think bigger picture rather than ticking one person off

Shoot I just added a long a** post lol

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

It's like you're trying to make the union look bad.

 

The union has done nothing but good things for me.. And for 4 generations of my family.

[BamaBassChaser]

Most every company these days has a tip hotline. Get someone you know to call it if you don't want to.

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

Most every company these days has a tip hotline. Get someone you know to call it if you don't want to.

i did call..

[tomustang]

The union has done nothing but good things for me.. And for 4 generations of my family.

Perhaps it's because you have done good things for your union. Many people forget that circumstances are two way streets.

[scrutch]

I missed the post where you said you called. Good job. It was the right thing to do for everyone.

[Lund Explorer]

It's not that we are not trained.

 

Sorry for the confusion.  Reading many of your posts it sounded like you didn't know what the "Right Thing To Do" was.  It just seemed to me that a fully trained union steward would have already been taught how to treat a situation dealing with alcoholics causing problems on the job.  If not that issue, then workplace safety surely should have been covered in that training. 

 

Every company I have ever been associated with has training for it's employees.  I'm sure that your employer has a training period for all of it's employees, and I highly doubt that operating an overhead crane doesn't have it's own training.  I know that the Local at my wife's shop has weeklong seminars/retreats for the purpose of provided leadership training for it's union officers/stewards.  This training is put on by state and national level union leadership.

 

If your union provides training, but it doesn't cover issues as common as alcoholism or safety, I would suggest that you demand that they upgrade their system.

[J Francho]

Hopefully this guy will get a wake up call, and get help. Addiction is full of "not yet" stories.

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

And update we had our regular morning meeting said employee looked cashed. And could tell the boss is on to him. There is 60 brothers/sisters on my line. The said employee was hiding in the back of the group like always. The boss stood him the whole time. So I'm 100% sure he is on to him. I felt very uncomfortable at the meeting but took part just like I always do and my boss did give me nod as to saying TY for being honest.. I know this isn't gonna happen over night but see the employee has not learned his lesson and is still coming after a hard night on the sauce it's only a matter of time before I am called to escort this employee to the door and take his badge and hand it over to my boss. I was praying that his incident was gonna wake him up.. But it's back back to business as usual.. I will keep people posted on the situation.. Thanks for your support and words of wisdom. Have a great safe day..

[BamaBassChaser]

Good for you! Doing the right thing sucks sometimes but you did what you had to do.

[.ghoti.]

ACG, this is not your job. This is an issue for management, and this is their failure. Quit beating yourself up. Then do what you can for him, as a steward. That's your function in this case. And, all you can do is try to get him to help himself.

[bigbill]

Been through this, I watched my co-workers go on binges till they end up dead. Legally there is nothing we or the company can do. If we but in we get sued.

 

One company I was building machines for sent one co-worker that had a drinking problem out to a place that helps these people dry out. The company tried to help him three times. The forth time he couldn't find his rolling tool box and ran into the VP while he was drunk again that was the last straw.

 

I feel bad to this day we lost a lot of talented people. They were good men when they were sober.

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

I I thought I would update employee still has a job nothing has been done as of yet.. I don't directly work with this guy so I can't say what he has been like.. But the good thing is he still has a job for now.

[F14A-B]

I I thought I would update employee still has a job nothing has been done as of yet.. I don't directly work with this guy so I can't say what he has been like.. But the good thing is he still has a job for now.

I know how unions work guy, my dad, my grandpa, my uncle... Worked at Appliance Park

Louisville, Ky. (GE) when they started there were

23,000 employees ... I have heard it all ! They all

Retired and my dad enjoyed 15 years of it till death. Point I guess... I could never, ever understand how union workers would sneak out of bld.5 go to the Bar get drunk and come back

After hours. I have heard it all! Like I said before

Do you're duty... In the end it's all you can do!

He may hurt someone.. Or have a costly workplace accident... Then they have got a whole

Bag of other issues . You have done you're duty

The rest is in Gods hands.

[Brian Needham]

EDIT:

nevermind

 

its so far gone of a cluster I guess when someone dies, lessons will be learned.

 

good luck!

[deaknh03]

Thinking logically, most people turn this guy in, and do whatever you have to to potentially save a life. Would you just cross your fingers and hope he changes if he sped by you in his car, drunk, and your family was out in the area driving? Seems to me like being in a union is similar to being in a cult, but it pays better.

[plumworm]

If he is still drinking and coming to work like you described. Then no, it's not good that he still has a job. Brotherhood over safety , what a crock. You may get enough votes for that higher union position you are seeking though. But at what cost ?

[F14A-B]

The way I understand this is it's beyond he's capability to hammer this guy.... Unions protect the Good, the bad, and the ugly.... Idk... But I have seen this movie before!

[K_Mac]

I worked as a union member for many years.  I have also worked in management in union shops and spent years working as a non-union original equipment rep in union shops. I know how the system works. Those of you who are drawing conclusions about unions based on this member, and this situation do so based on a snap-shot that does not illustrate all unions.This "brotherhood" has let this guy, the membership and the company down by allowing him to continue putting everyone at risk. I think we all can agree on that. The shots at unions and their membership do not belong here IMO.  

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Thinking logically, most people turn this guy in, and do whatever you have to to potentially save a life. Would you just cross your fingers and hope he changes if he sped by you in his car, drunk, and your family was out in the area driving? Seems to me like being in a union is similar to being in a cult, but it pays better.

En sorte Diaboli!

There's more to being in a union and being a good brother than what's being expressed here. Don't judge us based on what one man has to say.

And yes we do get paid more than non union workers. We are also expected to produce a higher quality of work than non union workers. I'm not saying non union contractors don't do good work. I'm just saying, there are differences.

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

IT obvious to me that most of have not read the whole thread. I did my part turned guy in just did it anonomously. The boss is full aware of whats going on. There is no way he couldnt know the whole shop is talking about it.. All that i was saying by updating is the guy still has is job so the company has not found the evidence to take action yet. Trust whenand if they do i will be the first one called to walk him to the door and take his badge. So if your gonnapass judgment atlest read the thread. I have been very clear on what corse of action i took. I was not going directly to the boss on what others had said id di not witness the act in person i was just told he had come in drunk. I am not even sure what time the incedent took place to be honest it was around 10 am i think. It was only around 100,000 dollars damage and the company was more worried keeping the line moving then dealing with it at the time. That has nothen to do with me or the union if i was the boss i would of had said employee go straight to medical take a pee test and breath test. But there again im not the boss so not my call.