What is a Grievance?
“I want to file a grievance!” is one of the most frequently misused statements I hear. In the Local 849 Standard Agreement, grievances are discussed in “Article 25. SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES.”
A grievance is a complaint or disagreement between the Company and the Union about the meaning, interpretation, or application of the Collective Agreement. It can also be a response to a violation of an employee's rights on the job—whether under the Collective Agreement or under legislation. Not all complaints are grievances. They need to clearly violate either the contract or the law.
