This agreement included Section 7.15 which deals with electronic fund transfer. This required employees to fill out documentation, to sign the agreement and attach a voided check for bank verification. Before any negative adjustment is made, I understand that I will be informed of the detail. Claimant refused to execute the forms on the basis that the language gave the employer access to his personal banking account, whereby funds could be withdrawn. Employer assured the claimant that at no time would Caterpillar do anything underhandedly or unlawful.
Employer is a multi-national corporation and held to high ethical standards.
The claimant was informed that his failure to sign the authorization would result in discharge. Claimant did not suggest that employer would act illegally, just that they would have a power, which claimant felt was a violation of his privacy and civil rights. Employer suggested claimant either take the matter up with the bargaining unit or file a grievance, but claimant did not pursue matters beyond the discussion stage. Claimant had an alternative, which was exercised by other employees at other Caterpillar locations, of crossing out the offending language, initialing the cross out and executing the documents. Hence, the Board affirmed the referee's decision denying Claimant benefits.