13:1
13:2
13:3
ARTICLE XII]
Grievance Procedure and Resolution of Complaints
Both parties to this agreement encourage employees to bring forward concerns about work-related
issues to their supervisors, with the hope that direct communication and constructive conversations
can lead to the informal resolution of disagreements at the lowest possible level. However, should
an employee be unable to resolve a concern with his or her supervisor, the grievance procedure
outlined in this article shall be followed.
The purpose of this article is to establish a procedure for the settlement of grievances which involve
an alleged violation of a term or provision of this Agreement, or which involve a perceived violation
of work place conditions. All such grievances will be handled as follows:
A grievance must be filed within ten (10) working days of its occurrence or within ten (10) days of the
date the employee, by reasonable diligence, should have known of its occurrence. The grievance
must be submitted to the next step within the time limits provided or it will be considered settled. A
grievance once settled at any one of the following steps shall not be further subject to the grievance
procedure.
Grievances shall be processed in the following manner:
Step 1 Any Association member who has a grievance shall, with or without an Association
Representative, discuss it first with the immediate supervisor, in an attempt to resolve the
matter at this level. A decision shall be rendered within ten (10) working days.
Step 2 An unfavorable decision under Step 1 may be formally appealed to the immediate
supervisor within ten (10) working days. The appeal must be in writing on the grievance
form as provided by the Association. The immediate supervisor shall render a decision
within ten (10) working days.
Step 3 Anunfavorable decision under Step 2 may be appealed to the Superintendent within ten
(10) working days. The Superintendent shall render a decision within ten (10) working
days.
Step 4 Anunfavorable decision under Step 3 may be appealed to the Board of Education within
ten (10) working days. The Board shall render a decision within twenty (20) working days.
Step 5 ‘If a grievance involving the interpretation or application of a specific provision of this
Agreement has not been settled after being fully processed through the grievance
procedure above, then the Association may submit such grievance to arbitration by giving
written notice thereof to the Board not later than ten (10) working days after the
completion of Step 4. The grievance shall be considered as having been settled at Step 4,
unless it is so submitted to arbitration within such time limit.
The choice of the Arbitrator shall be by agreement of the parties. However, if such
agreement has not been reached within ten (10) working days after the receipt of such
written notice submitting the grievance to arbitration, the grievance may be referred by
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