Filing a TImely Grievance

Article 43 (Grievance Procedure); Section 7 (Procedure); Paragraph B:

"Step 1.
"An employee and/or the Union shall present the grievance to the immediate or acting supervisor, in writing, within 30 calendar days of the date that the employee or Union became aware, or should have become aware, of the act or occurrence; or, anytime if the act or occurrence is of a continuing nature. The immediate or acting supervisor will make every effort to resolve the grievance immediately but must meet with the employee/representative and provide a written answer within 14 calendar days of receipt of the grievance. If there is to be more than one Department official involved in the grievance meeting, the Union will be so notified in advance."

Much of what I do as a union representative is hearing the problems that face labor. I must then determine which tools can be used in the collective bargaining process to assist the employee with his/its/their/her concern(s). The simple definition of the grievance is "a cause of distress (such as an unsatisfactory working condition) felt to afford reason for complaint or resistance." Some employees are reluctant to express their concerns for fear of retaliation. Who wouldn't?

From time to time I am put in a situation where I get to throw a self-anointed self-appointed supercilious a**hole supervisor who thinks he/it/they/she can do whatever the heck he/it/they/she wants based on title under the bus. Many of these cretins are in desperate need of humbling and I'm glad I get to do it with the audience of human resources.