WHAT ARE TOTEM EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES?

Employee Representatives are trained TOTEM Members who are available to help you with job related circumstances. They can offer advice, help mediate difficult situations and represent you in disciplinary meetings. Their primary job is to ensure the TOTEM Contract is being enforced. If you have a job issue or question, please feel free to contact your employee representative.

Per Section 102 of the TOTEM Collective Bargaining Agreement:

"Employee Representatives shall be allowed, upon notification made to the immediate principals/ supervisors, to represent employees in disciplinary conferences and investigate/ administer grievances during work hours. Employee Representatives shall not suffer any loss of compensation for reasonable time spent in pursuit of Employee Representatives' duties. The District may take appropriate action for excessive use of time by an Employee Representative. The Association shall have access to all employees covered by this Agreement on a not-to-interfere basis."

KNOW YOUR RIGHT TO UNION REPRESENTATION!

"If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that a union representative be present at this meeting. Without union representation, I choose not to answer questions.

(This is your right under the 1975 U.S. Supreme Court Weingarten decision.)

LOOKING FOR AN EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE?

If you are in need of an Employee Representative, please call the TOTEM Office at (907) 562-1183 or email office@totemassoc.org and we will connect you with a member who can assist you.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SITE CONTACT & AN EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE

*The most imporant difference being that the Employee Reps have the authority to represent TOTEM employees, Site Contacts do not.*

SITE CONTACT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Meet and welcome new TOTEM employees to their site: "First Friend, Best Friend"
Maintain the site bulletin board.
Distribute flyers and information, provided by TOTEM to TOTEM employees.
Be a phone contact if there is a need to get information to TOTEM employees quickly.
Refer members to the TOTEM Office if they have questions or concerns.

EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES:

By Law and the TOTEM Contract: Employee Reps have been trained and have the authority to represent all employees in the Collective Bargaining Unit at investigatory meetings, evaluations, and other meetings as may be necessary, to resolve member issues and shall assist the President in preparing a grievance. Employee Reps are allowed to represent employees in disciplinary conferences during work hours.