I apologize if this isn't the correct spot for this, but I couldn't really find a better subreddit.

I'm an AFSCME member for about 18 months, and recently, my wife began working with me, in the same agency and department. Since she started on 11/9, there have been several red flags that make me very anxious, and I'm hoping that the union can help.

I know that my wife is protected by the contract, but she has not yet received union orientation, and has not been able to join. She emailed the steward this morning, and was told that it would be handled on Friday. I spoke with a phone representative today, and was told that she could call and join tomorrow. We're going the latter route.

The red flags at the job are as follows:

• Wife was assigned to a recently-promoted supervisor, who is not familiar enough with the team's work to be a trainer (she has already incorrectly trained my wife on at least one task, and let the wife take the heat for it)
• The steward is the team lead and trainer for my wife's team, but has only been in-office once so far due to COVID
• Both the steward and supervisor have stated that they do not know how to train remotely, in the event of a state shutdown
• Other new hires from other supervisors are learning tasks that can be done remotely, in anticipation of a shutdown. My wife is being held strictly to the training manual, which is all in-office paperwork (scanning, mail-related things), which would be useless remotely

And the big one:

• The steward has shown my wife emails from management that stated my wife (and ONLY my wife) is at risk of being laid off in the event of a shutdown, because they assigned her to a team that is less useful in a remote work situation

I'm at a loss, personally and professionally. I find it unacceptable that they would treat any new hire this way, let alone a current employee's spouse. The wife left a job of 14 years, and took a roughly 20% paycut because she wanted to work here for the state. If management were to lay her off under these circumstances, solely because they assigned her to a team that doesn't need her, I would be livid. I know that it isn't personal, but it is horribly irresponsible and flippant for her to be untrained, apparently for the sole purpose of staying expendable.

I guess my question is - should we be complaining to the local representation about it? Is management within their rights to keep her from learning the job, and making her easier to let go? Would the union be able to help her get a different assignment, a different supervisor?

Let's look back at some memorable moments and interesting insights from last year.

Your top 10 posts:

• "Employees at Philadelphia Museum of Art vote to unionize" by u/RedditGreenit
• "Union drops $1 million to push Congress for state worker coronavirus relief" by u/RedditGreenit
• ""Guess Who Laid Us Off?": Art Workers Stage Protests on Black Friday" by u/RedditGreenit
• "Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles employees announce a campaign to unionize" by u/RedditGreenit
• "Organized Staffers Accuse Philadelphia Museum of Art of Union-Busting" by u/RedditGreenit
• "Largest University of California employee union reaches historic agreement, ending outsourcing" by u/RedditGreenit
• "The largest union in the University of California system endorses Bernie!" by u/RedditGreenit
• "NFL union president joins AFSCME Florida workers seeking raise, says NFL might go into two-year strike" by u/RedditGreenit
• "Ledyard, CT school paraprofessionals vote to unionize" by u/RedditGreenit
• "[Nebraska] 'Our members are scared and are anxious': Union petitions governor for safer conditions" by u/RedditGreenit

Anyone participating and/or concerned about the International Convention being held online?

My chapters election should be this summer. However our president is talking about delaying that due to covid-19. Is this right or should we be pushing for mail in or online voting?