Union Terminology

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Job Action:

A concerted activity by employees designed to put pressure on the employer without resorting to a strike. Examples include: wearing T-shirts, buttons, or hats with union slogans, holding parking lot meetings, collective refusal of voluntary overtime, reporting to work in a group, petition signing, jamming phone lines, etc.

Joint Committee or Panel:

A committee of equal numbers of union and management representatives established by a contract to hear grievances arising under the contract. If a committee is deadlocked on a grievance, the matter may be referred to a higher committee, to an arbitrator, or the employer and the union may be permitted economic recourse, depending on the wording of the contract.

Jurisdiction:

The specific industry, craft and/or geographical area which a local union is chartered to organize or represent.

Jurisdictional Dispute:

A conflict involving a dispute between two unions over which shall represent a group of employees in collective bargaining or as to which union's members shall perform a certain type of work.

Just Cause:

A reason an employer must give for any disciplinary action it takes against an employee. An employer must show just cause only if a contract requires it. Most contracts have just cause requirements which place the burden of proof for just cause on the employer.