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Hi, I have been working for this company for about 3 years or so, and this is a union job. Now they came up with the idea to cross train us between teams. So my supervisor told me that I will be training in this particular team (which I am not comfortable with because of the work ques). I used to be in that team for 2 years before they transferred a few of us in the present team because this present team needed more people. So we got transferred and we have new supervisor. I have been in this team for a little over a year. I feel that she didn't ask me she just said "you are going to be trained" and she didn't tell or ask others only me. (note that she doesn't like me and knows that I am not interested going back working on those accounts). I asked her how did I get picked and she said nobody volunteered (she never asked anyone). I told her that I am not comfortable working on those accounts and that is not cross training since I came from that team just like a few of us, and I would like to be cross trained in the areas that I have never been cross trained. I told her that I don't mind helping out here and there on those accounts when a lot of people call off but that's about it. The reason I am worried because there is another co-worker who came from the same team as I, and the supervisor doesn't like her either, was sent to those accounts to "help and cross trained" and she is been working on those accounts for 2 months already and she is not happy either and saying that the supervisor should pick other people too to cross train. So my question is do I have a right to refuse and say I would like to be cross trained in the other areas I haven't been cross trained. My understanding is, it is the employee's choice if they want to be cross trained not to be forced. Please tell me if I am missing something, thank you. Note that her fav people just staying within the same team( some of them came from the same team as I) will "eventually" be cross trained in very easy accounts while I have to go to a different team.
I know I can look at this opportunity like "I should be happy that supervisor picked me" but she didn't pick me for the reason because she thinks I am that good.
Last edited by katalin; 11-30-2018 at 01:12 AM..
Reason: Mistake
Do you have an MOU (memorandum of understanding)? What does it say? Deos it say you cannot be 'forced' to train on other processes than the one you were hired for? I doubt it. Needs of the service generally prevail, and in the job description the phrase "and other duties as required" covers whatever else they might need or want you to do.
As this is a union shop, ultimately the answer will be found in your contract. Your shop steward is the first person you should contact.
However, it is very unlikely that the union will be able to help at all. Typically assignment of tasks is a managerial prerogative, as long as the employee is not required to work above and outside of their wage class. This typically means that you cannot force a union employee to work as a pipefitter if they are being paid as a security guard. However, in your case where it seems that it is simply a different type of officework, and comparable to your current role, cross training would not violate this principle.
Bottom line, your boss can require you to do whatever work they want, as long as You are being paid appropriately. If they want to cross train you, or simply move you to a different department entirely, they can do so. That is a typical managemt right and responsibility.
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I agree with both previous responses. I have managed both union and non-union employees, and cross-training has always been common, and actually to the benefit of the employee in most cases.
As noted, check your contract. It sounds like they want you to do something that is in the same job classification that you are in now, just a task that you do not want to do, in which case you don't have any recourse. Management has a lot of flexibility in these situations. They can leave you in a silo working on a single task, or they can require you to cross train in every related task within your division, or anything in between.
Thank you, but she wants me to cross train me in the area I was already cross trained,instead of the available other areas.
That would typically be a management right. Unless you have a very unusual CBA, crosstraining and fulfillment of those duties is a job responsibility that you cannot refuse.
Cross-training looks good on your resume because you're able to do more than one job, which increases your chances of raises & promotions. I do cross training once a year on my job and when I do assignments/projects in another area, I note on my resume.
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