When Joshua, a Motor Vehicle Representative at DMV Sacramento, repeatedly raised concerns about a coworker’s habit of coughing and sneezing without covering her mouth, management ignored his complaints—even after he put them in writing. Despite his efforts to address a basic health and safety issue, nothing was done.
Frustrated by the lack of action, Joshua confronted the coworker, and instead of addressing the root problem, management wrote him up for being “disruptive.” Even though he had three years of spotless service with no prior write-ups, management failed to acknowledge their own inaction and instead blamed him. They even falsely accused him of making inappropriate comments about bias in the workplace.
But Joshua had proof—a clear trail of emails documenting his repeated efforts to get management to act. With union support, we demanded a meeting to challenge the unfair write-up. Shortly after, management retracted the memo entirely, removing it from both his informal and official files.
Joshua’s case is proof that without a union, state workers are left to fight these battles alone. Because he was a union member, he had representation, a strong contract, and the power to push back.
If you’re not a member yet, this is why you should join. Management doesn’t always do the right thing—but when we stand together, we make sure they do. Sign up today and ensure you have the same protection when you need it.