I can't speak for everyone on our collective, but I've personally experienced a fair range of unacceptable behavior from our volunteers and shop users.

For collective members, we have an internal process written into our bylaws for discussion removal if all else fails - http://www.austinyellowbike.org/about_ybp.htm (see link at bottom of page, currently not functioning though...). The only problems I remember us dealing with are unfriendliness of shop coordinators and the resale of donated bikes and parts for personal profit.

The "policies" below are very informal as we haven't finalized our shop manual:

The minor problems I have experienced with volunteers are them mis-informing other shop users on aspects of bicycle maintenance, use of facilities without donating time or money in return or not finishing up personal bike repairs within shop hours and causing shop coordinator to stay late. In these cases, we let the volunteer know that there is a problem with their behavior and if it happens repeatedly, they are banned from the shop for a month (by collective consensus) and can only return if they come to the next collective meeting after the ban expires and promises not to repeat their problem behavior. If it still continues, they are banned indefinitely.

Another minor issue is the misuse of shop time by community service volunteers. We can't supervise them the whole time, so we let them know that we are a laid back place to do community service hours, better than most, but if they abuse that by not working we will not sign off on their hours at the end of the shop. This is quite effective.

The major problems I have seen are sexual harassment, threats of violence, panhandling, theft from the shop or use of the shop by known bike thieves. None of these behaviors are tolerated and shop coordinators are free to remove and ban indefinitely anyone doing this. We try to keep a photographic record of these offenders to display in our shops.

Simon
Yellow Bike Project, Austin, TX
http://www.austinyellowbike.org

rachael spiewak wrote:

does any shop have a process for dealing with volunteers who have stepped far over the line? to the point that the volunteer had to take a break from the shop? and then the volunteer wanted to come back?

let's say that this volunteer, although a very dependable one, makes other shop participants feel so uncomfortable that they avoid coming to the shop when they know that this volunteer will be there.

how do you reconcile your politics with your feelings when that volunteer personally wronged you repeatedly in and outside of the shop?

two wheels good,
rachael
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