"To me, the Young Worker Program means support, empowerment, and enrichment for the often overlooked new worker" - Karen Rawles Columbia University NY, NY
What is minimum wage? Young Workers Have The Right To Minimum Wage:
Basic Minimum Wage for General Employees… NY 2007 – $7.15
NY 2009 – $7.25
NJ 2007 – $7.15
NJ 2009 – $7.25
MA 2007 – $7.50
MA 2008 - $8.00
MD 2007 – $6.15
DC 2007 – $7.00 Are you an 1199SEIU UHE member?
Wages are generally higher for Union members. Check out your Contract Bargaining Agreement for your rates. For more information go to:
http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm
Does my age matter? All workers have the right to minimum wage, occupational health & safety, and to organize. However, according to Federal Law there are a few rules for workers 17 and under. Workers age 17 and under:
· May not perform work at any job declared hazardous such as, mining, logging, meatpacking, roofing, excavation, demolition, operating a motor vehicle or forklift, working with saws, explosives, or radioactive materials. Workers age 16 and under:
· May work up to 3 hours a day/ 18 hours in a school week
· May work up to 8 hours a day/40 hours in a non school week
· All work must be performed between 7 am and 7 pm unless school in not in session, when the hours are extended to 9 pm. Some states have additional rules. For more information go to: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/rights.html Is it wise to join a Union? It is very hard to win an argument with someone who has the power to fire
you. Even if you don’t plan to be at your job for long, a Union can help you
protect your rights. You Have The Right To Organize! The 1st Amendment of the Constitution gives you the right to join together
to protect your individual rights. Joining a Union is one way to ensure JUST
WORKING CONDITIONS! Union: An organization of workers joined to protect their common interests and improve their working conditions. They have the power to do the following: - Ensure a safe workplace
- Ensure fair treatment, where one is not fired without cause, and workers have a decent salary, health care, time off, and fair treatment.
Under the Wagner Act All Workers Have The Right to: - Organize
- Strike
- Pass out literature during non-work time and in non-work sites
- Prepare for activities like bargaining, grievances, picketing, etc.
Although you have the right to organize, you can help make the consequence
greater for bosses who try to ignore your right to organize. Strengthen the
right to organize at www.americanrightsatwork.org How do I get active in 1199SEIU? Get active! There are several ways to get active! · Join the Young Worker Program
· Go to a Chapter Meeting
· Volunteer
· Work on a campaign
· Become a Delegate
· Tell your story In order to do these things, contact your organizer. If you do not know who they are, email youngvoices@1199.org.
How do I know my job is safe? “Every year approximately 70 teens die from work injuries in the U.S.” – OSHA.gov Occupational Health and Safety is about valuing you as a total person. If sickness or injury can limit you as a worker, it can limit you as a mother, father, student, and contributor to your family or community. Help your employers limit and prevent injuries and hazards on the job. You Have The Right To Know
· You have the right to KNOW if there are any hazardous of dangerous machinery, material, or conditions in your workplace
· You have the right to TRAINING provided by your Boss. If you don’t understand part of the training ask questions, so you can safely protect yourself. You Have The Right to Get Involved
· Request information from your Boss on safety and health hazards in the workplace, Safety and Health reports or test results, and training about procedures to follow
· Request copies of related standards, rules, regulations, and requirements
· Access relevant exposure and medical records
· Observe any monitoring or measuring of toxic materials or chemicals and other harmful agents.
· Participate in hearings or meetings to discuss violations You Have The Right to Refuse
· You have the right to refuse work in unsafe working conditions and can stop your work immediately by citing your legal right to refuse unsafe work. You Have The Right to Ask Questions
· You have the right to ask questions about your duties, the conditions, or the employers safety and health intentions
· Don’t perform any task until you are properly trained
· If you have been given too much information at once, ask the employer or trainer to repeat the information slowly For more information about health and safety check out www.osha.gov What are Weingarten Rights? Weingarten Rights entitle you to Union representation during investigatory interviews! This means your Delegate or Organizer can serve as a witness to ensure a true account of the conversation. Investigatory Interview – When the Boss questions you to get information to use in disciplinary action or asks you to defend your actions. Commonly used in:
· Absenteeism
· Accidents
· Damage to company property
· Alcohol/drug use
· Patient abuse
· Record falsification
· Fighting
· Insubordination
· Lateness
· Poor attitude
· Theft
· Performance
· Violation of safety rules If you are ever called into a meeting with your supervisor or manager so they can investigate a situation that might result in discipline, you have rights: - You have the right to have a Union delegate present.
- If you want a Delegate there, you must ask for him or her.
- If you do not know why your manager wants to meet with you, ask him/her if it is a meeting that could result in a discipline.
- If your manager refuses to allow you to bring a Delegate, repeat your request in front of a witness. Do not refuse to attend the meeting, but do not answer any questions either. Take notes. Once the meeting is over call your delegate at once.
- You have the right to speak privately with your delegate before the meeting and during the meeting.
- Your Delegate has the right to play an active role in the meeting. She or he is not just witness.
This statement could save your job:
“If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working conditions, I respectfully request that my Union representative, officer, or delegate be present at the meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions.”
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