What To Do When a Member Asks For Advice

You and Your Members Must Work Within the System

Let's look at another scenario: You are the steward for the evening shift. As soon as you get to work one night, your supervisor comes to you and says that you need to represent one of your members. As he leads you toward the break room, where the member is waiting, he fills you in.

"Joe came to work a half hour late," the supervisor says. "I had to write him up for being tardy. I asked him if he wanted a steward, and he said no in front of a couple of witnesses, though he was obviously upset. I asked him if everything was all right, and he said yes. So I just figured he was upset over the write-up. I don't remember ever writing him up before.

"About an hour later, the production guys called and said they were just about out of parts and the number 5 line would have to shut down. Joe is the materials/supply person for line 5, so I went to find him.

"I saw his forklift parked in an aisle, and Joe looked like he was slumped over the wheel. When I hollered at him, he fired up and pulled out into the main traffic lane without looking -- right into another forklift. Nobody was hurt, but the parts bin on Joe's forklift turned over and scattered parts all up and down the main traffic lane. Now, the traffic lane is shut down, the number 5 line is out of parts, and I got guys just standing around. Joe's in pretty deep. That's why I wanted you to be here when I tell him what I have to say."

When you get to the break room, Joe is pacing up and down. He whispers in your direction something about the supervisor being out to get him.

The supervisor doesn't hear Joe, but asks him to take a seat at the break table. Joe refuses to sit down and keeps pacing back and forth, muttering.

At this point the supervisor says, "Joe, you have been involved in a property damage accident. As a matter of fact, your behavior has been unusual all day, right from the minute you came in a half-hour late. I am going to have to ask you to take a drug/alcohol urine test."

Joe turns to you and asks for your advice: "What do I do?"

What would you tell him?

I doubt you'd advise him to beat up the supervisor and run for it. But if you don't think before you respond, the advice you give may be almost as bad.