By: Attorney Benjamin Taylor, Attorney at Law

For those who are paying close attention, you will see that Kevin Prendergast is not writing this letter. After many years of service to the CSEA, Kevin has retired from the practice of law. I believe I speak for everyone when I say that his work was sincerely appreciated and that he has truly earned all of the good things that are coming in this next phase for him.

By way of introduction, my name is Benjamin Taylor. I have been working as the new attorney for the CSEA since the beginning of the year, and I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting many of the members already. I spend a lot of time walking and waiting around in City buildings, so if you see someone in a suit that you don't recognize, it's probably me. A more certain method to see me is for you to come to the CSEA Annual Meeting, where I'll be speaking and there will be plenty of time for me to talk to you individually.

As a refresher, I would like to take a minute to remind you of what to do in the event that you find yourself being issued a pre-disciplinary hearing. This hearing is your legal right, and the CSEA office and I are here to make sure that your all of your rights are protected through the entire disciplinary process. The first step you should take is to call the CSEA office line, at (216) 771-6570. When you call, be prepared to discuss your situation and also have the paperwork for your pre-disciplinary hearing ready at hand. The office will request that you scan and send them all of your paperwork. Once you have brought the CSEA office into the loop and e-mailed them your documents, the real work can begin.

Please keep in mind that it is your duty to call and inform the CSEA about your discipline so that you may get the help you need. The City does not provide this information to the CSEA, and the CSEA has no way to know unless you call in. Another common problem is that the City labor relations officer will contact me directly after they notify you of the pre-disciplinary hearing. The correct flow for this is for the member to promptly contact the CSEA with all details, then allow the CSEA to work through its process, after which time I will be notified and able to take over the file.

Finally, always remember that this hearing is your right. This is your chance to directly address the situation and make sure that your side of the story is heard. To that end, the more information you can provide, the more room to operate we have. Often these situations come down to he said, she said situations and an entirely muddled state of facts. The better you are able to order and organize your side of the story, the clearer and persuasive your side will be. Printed letters, e-mails, written statements, and witnesses tend to go further than a verbal claim.

This is a long way of saying that you are the only one that you can count on to obtain the paperwork and proof to back up what you say. If you are issued a pre-disciplinary hearing, you can be sure that the department will be bringing all the proof that it can to prove its point; you should be prepared to do the same. Gather everything you have, call the CSEA office, and we will make sure your rights are protected.