If you believe that your rights have been violated, you may want to speak to a union representative for help. We can help you to understand your rights, or help you formally or informally file a grievance. Read our collective agreement to help yourself understand your rights. Here is a quick breakdown of the grievance procedure:
- A grievance can be defined as a perceived breach of the collective agreement.
- Step 1: If someone has a grievance, s/he must discuss it with the employment supervisor, with or without a union representative, within 20 working days of the alleged violation of the collective agreement.
- Step 2: If the reply is not satisfactory to the griever, or if there is no reply in 10 working days, the griever, accompanied by a union representative, may present a written grievance within 15 working days to the department chair. If the employment supervisor is the department chair, then you must skip step 2.
- Step 3: If the written reply is not satisfactory, or if there is no reply in 10 working days, then the griever and union representative may present a written grievance within 15 working days to the appropriate Dean or Director of Human Resources.
- Step 4: If the written reply is not satisfactory, or if there is no reply in 10 working days, then the Union may present a written grievance to the Vice President (administration) on behalf of the griever. If this step fails, then the grievance is referred to arbitration.
*Note: If more than two people are grieving the same issue in the same department, go immediately to step 2 within 15 working days.
**Note: A grievance arising because the Administration itself allegedly violated the collective agreement or where employees in more than one department grieve the same issue shall go directly to step 3 within 15 working days.
***Note: If someone is subject to disciplinary action (ie. if someone has received an oral or written warning), s/he may go directly to step 3 within 15 working days.
****Note: if someone is discharged or suspended, they may go directly to step 4.