Grievance Procedure

If you believe that your workplace rights have been violated, you should talk to your Shop Steward or Union Representative about possibly filing a grievance. Before you have that conversation, there are some important pieces of information to keep in mind. 

1. KNOW YOUR FILING DEADLINE. The first thing you should do is check your Contract for the Filing Deadline. This information is usually found in the Article of your Contract labeled “Grievance” or “Grievance Procedure.”  The filing deadline usually starts when the contract violation occurred or when you should have reasonably become aware of it. It is important to know the filing deadline, because if the grievance is filed late, the grievance will be out of time, and may not be processed. Do not wait until just before the deadline to reach out to a Union representative for assistance!      
    
2. WHAT TYPE OF GRIEVANCE IS IT?

   1. Contractual: A violation of something in the contract 

   2. Non-Contractual: A violation of policy, past practice, rules, procedures 

   3. “Internal Complaints”: These types of complaints are filed with the Employer or sometimes an outside agency. These types of complaints are management’s responsibility to investigate and resolve.  “Internal Complaints” include issues like bullying, workplace violence, harassment, and discrimination. Note: the Union can assist members with these complaints in addition to grievances. 

3. DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM IN WRITING. The most important step is to express what happened in a clear and concise way. Before you reach out to a steward or union rep, make sure that you can answer the following. Answering these questions in writing is strongly recommended: 

   • WHO is involved?  You will have to provide the names, titles, and departments of everyone who you believe is involved, including witnesses 

   • WHAT Happened? Be able to describe what occurred. Be specific, generalized statements are not helpful 

   • WHY is this a Grievance?  Has the contract been violated? What about violations of past practice, the law, or health and safety rules?  

   • WHEN did the Grievance occur? Give dates and times as accurately as possible. 

   • WHERE did the Grievance take place? Give the exact location, department, area, etc.  

   • HOW can the Grievance be resolved?  Before a grievance can be filed on your behalf, you need to be able to express the outcome you are looking for.  If you aren’t sure, you can discuss and get suggestions from your steward or union representative, but without possible remedies, a grievance cannot proceed