Welcome to your union!
Welcome to AFSCME Local 183 Orientation! Whether you're a seasoned public sector (government) worker or new to the field, this guide is designed to acquaint you with the benefits, rights, and responsibilities of being a member of our union. We are committed to advocating for workers’ interests and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace.
About Local 183: AFSCME Local 183 is a labor union representing certain public sector workers employed by Johnson County and the cities of Iowa City, Coralville, and Tiffin. We are dedicated to safeguarding the rights, wages, and working conditions of our members. With a rich history of successful advocacy and negotiation, we strive to empower workers and foster a supportive community.
Key Benefits of Joining:
Collective Bargaining Power: As a member of Local 183, you join forces with hundreds of other public sector workers locally and thousands state-wide to negotiate fair wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Representation: Gain access to advice and representation in workplace disputes, grievances, and disciplinary actions.
Training and Development: Take advantage of educational opportunities, workshops, and resources to enhance your skills and advocate for yourself and your colleagues.
Solidarity and Support: Join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to supporting each other and promoting workplace solidarity.
Advocacy and Legislative Action: Participate in campaigns and advocacy efforts to influence policy decisions affecting public sector workers at the local, state, and national levels.
Your Rights as a Union Member:
Collective Bargaining Rights: Learn about your rights to collectively bargain with your employer for wages, benefits, and working conditions.
Workplace Protections: Understand your rights under state and federal labor laws, including protections against discrimination, harassment, and unsafe working conditions.
Grievance Procedures: Familiarize yourself with the grievance process for addressing workplace issues and resolving disputes.
Representation: Know that you have the right to union representation during meetings with management that could result in discipline or termination.
Getting Involved:
Join a Committee: Explore opportunities to get involved in union committees focused on areas such as bargaining, organizing, education, and social justice.
Attend Meetings and Events: Stay informed and engaged by attending union meetings, rallies, and events in your area.
Share Your Ideas: We value your input and encourage you to share your ideas, concerns, and suggestions with union leadership.
Next Steps:
Sign Up: Ready to join AFSCME Local 183? Sign up today to become a member and start enjoying the benefits of union membership.
Contact Us: Have questions or need assistance? Reach out to us via the contact page.
Thank you for choosing to be a part of AFSCME Local 183! Together, we can build a stronger, more equitable future.
Weingarten Rights:
The Weingarten rules give employees the right to request union representation during investigatory interviews. An investigatory interview occurs whenever an employee is questioned in a manner which causes a reasonable fear that what is said might result in discipline or other adverse consequences.
This obviously includes questioning about theft, drugs, fights, absenteeism, lateness, or similar misconduct. Interrogation about work performance can also arouse reasonable fears. Weingarten does not apply to run of the mill shop floor conversations or to meetings in which supervisors give instructions on operating methods or safety practices.
Additionally, your collective bargaining agreement may permit you to have a steward present when receiving discipline and at each step in a grievance process. Check your contract to be sure.
You may read the statement below, pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court Case NLRB v. Weingarten, Inc. 420 U.S. 251 (1975).
"If this discussion could in any way lead to my being disciplined or terminated, or affect my personal working condition, I respectfully request that my union steward, representative, or officer be present at the meeting. Without representation, I choose not to answer any questions."
After requesting a steward, the manager may do one of three things:
The employer may grant the employee’s request and delay the interview until a representative is available.
The employer may deny the request and immediately end the interview.
The employer may allow the employee to choose whether to proceed with the meeting without a representative or to end the interview.
Contact a steward or officer for guidance on next steps.
What is a union?
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AFSCME stands for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO. AFSCME (pronounced aff-smee) is a labor union for “public sector” employees. Public sector just means that the employer is a government rather than a private business. You can click HERE to read more about AFSCME’s history.
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A union is an organization formed by workers who join together and use their strength to have a voice in their workplace. Through their union, workers have the ability to negotiate from a position of strength with employers over wages, benefits, workplace health and safety, job training and other work-related issues. Unions also serve an important role making sure that management acts fairly and treats its workers with respect.
Unions are democratic organizations and its leaders are elected by the membership.
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You work in public service because you care about your community. We can do more for our neighbors, our families, and each other if we speak with one voice. When we organize as a union, we gain the strength to make real change. Together, we speak with one voice that no one can ignore — not our bosses, not the people we serve, and not our elected officials at any level.
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Yes. Workers who are union members earn 26.2 percent more than non-union workers. The difference is even greater for women and people of color. Women and African Americans represented by unions earn between 29.7 and 33.1 percent more than their non-union counterparts. And Latino workers with the union advantage make 47.1 percent more than those not represented by a union.
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Yes. Union workers are more likely than their non-union counterparts to have access to health care and pension benefits. Ninety-five percent of union members have health insurance and a pension plan available — versus approximately 68 percent (health insurance) and 63 percent (pension) of those not in a union.
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Some politicians and pundits like to blame public service workers for America’s problems. They say we earn too much, our benefits our too rich, and we have too much political power. They slash our budgets and take our pensions. They give our jobs away to private contractors who pay lower wages.
But public service workers are the backbone of the American middle class. Together, we fight for prosperity and opportunity for all working families.
They want to privatize our jobs, strip us of our rights, and dismantle the services we provide to make our communities stronger and safer. No one who works for the public, no one who cares about supporting a family, no one who cares about building a strong middle class should let that happen.
We have to act now to stop the attacks on our rights and our ability to earn a decent living. That’s why helping more workers join unions and bargain for a better life is so important.
As a union, we work together to build political support for the vital services we provide. We make our families, our communities, and our country stronger.
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Collective bargaining is the process of negotiation between employees and their employer over wages, working conditions, benefits, and other aspects of workers' compensation and rights.
A committee of our co-workers — chosen by us — sits down and hammers out an agreement known as a "union contract" on every issue of concern to our bargaining unit. The committee sits at the bargaining table as equals with management.
In settings such as home-based care, a committee of provider/members — chosen by us — meets with representatives of the appropriate public agency to discuss issues affecting our daily lives. The union bargaining committee represents the united strength of all union members.
The majority of members must approve the agreement before it can become accepted as a contract.
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A bargaining unit is a group of employees who are all covered by the same contract. Local 183 has 8 units: City of Iowa City (Mixed), Iowa City Transit, Johnson County SEATS, Johnson County Ambulance, Johnson County Social Workers/Human Services, City of Coralville (Mixed), Coralville Transit, and City of Tiffin (Mixed.)
Members-Only Benefits
AFSCME Advantage offers members discounts on everything from travel to cell phone service to affordable online college degrees.
American Income Life Insurance - through a partnership with American Income Life Insurance Company, an AD&D benefit and other no-cost offers are being provided to all members of AFSCME Council 61 (includes Local 183.)