Grievance procedures
Every member deserves a fair and safe workplace.
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If you believe your rights under our contracts have been violated or you are facing unfair treatment, filing a grievance is the formal path to resolution. A representative of Extension United can work with you to determine if there was a violation of a contract article or workplace policy. Often, issues that arise can be handled outside of the formal grievance process through informal channels or by calling a special conference with management and human resources.
Contact us immediately to discuss the situation by emailing office@local1855.org.
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A complaint is a general dissatisfaction; a grievance is a formal claim that the University has specifically violated the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
Example:
Complaint: "My supervisor pulled me aside for a quick informal chat to review my work and gave me verbal feedback that felt critical."
Supervisors have the right to periodically discuss and review work performance. Article 17 (Support Staff) and Article 16 (Academic Staff) note these are not investigations, and employees do not have a right to a Union representative during routine performance discussions.
Potential grievance: "Management held an investigative meeting that resulted in a written reprimand, but they denied my request to have a Union representative present during the questioning."
Your Weingarten Rights, and in our contracts, Article 19, Section II (Support Staff) and Article 18, Section V (Academic Staff), state that if an employee requests a Union representative for an investigative meeting that may result in discipline, the Employer must allow reasonable time to arrange representation.
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Every month, a small committee of colleagues across all three units of Local 1855 meet to discuss how the Union can best support ongoing grievances and talk through issues that may evolve into formal grievances. We can always use new perspectives and expertise in these discussions. Occasionally, we seek the support of legal assistance through AFT Michigan. Contact office@local1855.org to learn more.