March 1, 2010

Steward-Member Confidentiality

A union steward seeking to protect due process rights of members and to enforce the terms of the collective bargaining agreement must be in a position to assure members that they don’t have to hold back on what information they provide. If you share confidential information from a member with union higher ups or a union attorney on a “need to know” basis, the confidentiality will be preserved. But if the member goes around talking to everyone under the sun, it won’t be possible to argue that the information is still confidential. Whatever notes you make of conversations with a member, make sure to include any assurances you gave him or her that the matter would be confidential, or any requests made by the member to that effect.