Trimess

Thursday, May 7, 2020

The case of Ryan Viken continues

Ms.  Wittman,  To follow up on several open issues:


1,  Your email April 24, 2020-  To clarify and confirm, you stated “TriMet, as agency policy, does not record investigative or disciplinary meetings.”  Is this correct?  Please advise.  Question?  Does TriMet record investigatory or disciplinary meetings outside of agency policy?  Please advise.  Does TriMet record investigative phone conversations that can lead to discipline with SIP complainants?  Please advise.  Are there any other types of meetings that are recorded by TriMet?  Please advise. 

2,  I, Ryan Viken, choose to record all meetings or discussions with TriMet Management where discipline up to and including termination is a possibility.   Specifically, I will invoke my Weingarten Rights for any such meeting.  I will do so to protect both TriMet and the Employee.  The purpose is for transparency, accountability, and accuracy.  Recording such meetings will also insure the integrity of the disciplinary process.  Ms. Wittman, please confirm in writing whether or not an employee has a the right to record investigatory and or disciplinary meetings? 

3,  Mandatory Meeting April 15, 2020-  Please provide certified copies of the following information.

  • The original complaint (s) filed against me, Ryan Viken, by any employee or employees for the conversation/discussion that took place March 31, 2020 in the Merlo Managers bullpen/employee waiting area.
  • All investigatory documents, written reports, handwritten notes, audio recordings, and or emails by any TriMet employee, or contract employee regarding the conversation/discussion that took place March 31, 2020.  This includes both Union and Non-Union personnel.
  • All Witness Statements
  • All handwritten notes taken by Assistant Manager, Donnie Vercher during the mandatory meeting April 15, 2020.
  • A complete, un-edited copy of all investigatory questions prepared by any member of TriMet’s Legal Department that you, Ms. Wittman, asked during the mandatory meeting April 15, 2020.
  • A complete, un-edited copy of all investigatory questions prepared by any member of TriMet’s Human Resource/Labor Relations Department that you, Ms. Wittman, asked during the meeting, April 15, 2020.

Ms. Wittman, the stress you and TriMet management have put on me and my family with the letter you authored April 10, 2020, given the COVID-19 Pandemic, without having a conversation with me; in my view, is just wrong.  The threat of discipline up to and including termination without telling me the specific allegations and where they originated, I believe is unethical and prejudicial; considering you only had one side of the story. 

I would like to receive the information requested regarding the April 15, 2020 meeting by certified mail on or before close of business Friday, May 8, 2020.   Please let me know if any questions. 

Sincerely,


1 comment:

Al M said...

Here’s the link for the disciplinary letter

https://app.box.com/s/z2avtfp3sfk8jute11amvk9hbccwdo4j