What is a grievance?
A grievance is a violation of your Collective Agreement, Human Rights violation, Occupational Health and Safety Act violation or Labour Relations Act violation. We get complaints on every aspect of working conditions in the workplace.
When should I contact the union?
If you feel that there has been a dispute, difference of opinion or interpretation between yourself and the Corporation, or a violation of the Collective Agreement you should contact your steward. If the steward is not able to provide the information and support your issue will be taken to the Chief Steward. The Chief Steward will contact the appropriate people to try to resolve the issue. Hopefully it can be resolved without filing a grievance. If not, a formal grievance will be filed. The President and Vice President will be notified about the grievance and may take an active role in the process.
Are all grievances the same?
There are a few different types of grievances: individual, policy/union, and group.
An individual grievance is a complaint that an action by the Corporation has violated the rights of an individual as set out in the Collective Agreement, law or some unfair practice. Examples of this type of grievance include: discipline, demotion, classification disputes, denial of benefits, vacation, leave of absence, etc.
A policy/union grievance is a complaint by the Union that an action or failure or refusal to act by the Corporation is a violation of the Collective Agreement that could affect all members who are covered by the Collective Agreement.
A group grievance is a complaint by a group of individuals, for example, a department that has been affected the same way and at the same time by an action taken by the Corporation.
If you have any questions or would like to file a grievance, please contact your steward to discuss the details.
Remember, at the end of the day, it is important to try to resolve any issues in our workplace cooperatively with the employer. We all need to work together to create a positive and inclusive workplace environment.