Steps to Avoid Grievances
As stated in article 22 of our Collective Agreement, “a grievance is a claim that there has been a violation, improper application or non-application of the terms of this Collective Agreement.” Given that a grievance arises from the Agreement being improperly applied, the best way to avoid grievances is to understand how our Agreement operates and ensure you and the employer follow it.
There are three distinct levels of regulations that govern how university business is conducted between ULFA members and the administration: legislation (from all government levels), our Collective Agreement, and policies of the university. Legislation takes precedence over the Agreement and policies, and the Agreement takes precedence over policies (i.e. university policies cannot violate legislation or our Agreement, and our Agreement cannot violate legislation).
Our Collective Agreement is a public document freely available on this website. Its articles establish the framework within which university policies and governance that apply to ULFA members operate. Not all articles of the Agreement will impact your position, rights, or responsibilities. You can look through the table of contents to help identify the articles relevant to your position and situation (e.g. your duties, the criteria governing probation, tenure, promotion, and salary, vacation entitlement, and economic benefits).
A careful reading of the articles relevant to your position and situation will explain what the Agreement says. When engaging with administrators in the university, ensure they also know and follow the relevant articles of the Agreement. If both you and the employer follow the provisions in the Agreement, then no grievances should arise!
We recognize that the Agreement is a complex document with many interlocking parts. If any part of the Agreement or how it applies to your position or situation seem unclear, don’t hesitate to reach out to ULFA staff! We are always happy to help review and clarify the contents of the Agreement and how it operates.
