Labor Relations Fundamentals for Community College Districts

 Do not engage in personal attacks against union representatives

 Understand privileges, obligations, and protections of union representatives

 Always coordinate closely with HR when responding to and resolving grievances

E.

P ROCESSING THE G RIEVANCE

The following guidelines for processing grievances apply generally to each step of the process except for the final step, which is usually a hearing or arbitration.

Supervisors may be required to hear and respond to grievances at the initial steps of the grievance procedure. Supervisors must follow the timelines and procedures provided in the applicable grievance procedure. Failure to follow the grievance procedures can harm resolution prospects at the early steps, and could undermine the district’s credibility if the grievance proceeds to hearing. Management’s failure to follow timelines will typically result in the union escalating the grievance to the next step in the grievance procedure.

1. B ASIC P RINCIPLES OF G RIEVANCE P ROCESSING

 Grievances should be addressed promptly , preferably at the first step of the grievance procedure

 Grievances should be addressed on their merits

 Grievance procedures should be easy to understand and administer

 Grievance decisions should be followed up to see that they are implemented

2. G RIEVANCE AS A C OMMUNICATION C HANNEL

 Information is channeled both ways between top and bottom levels of employer and association/union hierarchy  Management and association/union representatives use the grievance procedure as a means of keeping in touch with developments at the level of the individual employee  Because grievances are subject to review at each step by higher levels within each organization, and to some form of impartial adjudication, they constitute a reliable channel of communication

3. U NION A CTIVITY AND G RIEVANCE P ROCESSING

In pursuing grievances, a union has the benefit of certain rights, which enable it to pursue grievances in the workplace. Examples of such rights include:

Labor Relations Fundamentals for Community College Districts © 2019 (c) Liebert Cassidy Whitmore 34