Confidentiality

Teamsters Local No. 313 Business Agents, Staff as well as Shop Stewards who are involved in processing grievances for our bargaining unit members learn information concerning our members which is often personal in nature. Such information learned in the course of representing members must be kept confidential. That means that the information should only be shared with individuals within the Local when sharing the information furthers the business of the Local. Information about a unit member should be shared with the employer only to the extent necessary to the collective bargaining relationship. Personal information about unit members should never be shared with anyone outside the Local and its attorneys unless the unit member agrees.

Maintenance of confidentiality best serves our unit members by ensuring that their information is not disseminated to individuals or institutions that are hostile to our members or to the Local. Maintenance of confidentiality also encourages our members’ ability to bring grievances without fear of unnecessary disclosure of personal information.

In addition, the unnecessary disclosure of personal information could subject the Local and/or the individual representative or staff member to liability for defamation, invasion of privacy, discrimination or retaliation. This is particularly of concern when our members’ complaints involve discrimination or harassment issues. Unnecessary disclosure of information, or disclosure of derogatory or inaccurate information in those contexts could expose the Local and its representatives to claims of discrimination or retaliation and to monetary damages.