Q. What is a grievance?

A. A grievance is a complaint by an employee concerning any matter relating to the employment of the employee and any claimed violation, misinterpretation or misapplication of any law, rule or regulation affecting conditions of employment. Additionally, employees who believe they have been illegally discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicapping condition have the right to raise the matter in a grievance or in an EEO case, but not both.

Q.What are some examples of what can be grieved?

A. Depending on the facts, some of the types of issues that can be grieved include the denial of a promotion; the lowering of an evaluation; unfair and inappropriate evaluations; performing higher graded duties without receiving the appropriate pay; denial of leave requests; and changes in work conditions. This is just a small example of the number of issues that can be grieved. If an employee has a specific question or concern, he/she should consult the local steward.

Q. Is there anything that can't be grieved?

A. Yes, certain issues are excluded from coverage by any negotiated grievance procedure. These include prohibited political activities; retirement, life insurance and health insurance; suspension or removal for national security reasons; any examination, certification or appointment; and the classification of any position which does not result in the reduction in pay or grade of the employee.

Q. Is there any avenue available before filing a grievance?

A. Generally, in Chapter 58, the steward and employee will meet with the employee’s manager before filing a grievance to try to reach an informal resolution.