ARTICLE 8
OPEN SHOP
Membership in the Union is not compulsory. Employees may join or not, maintain, or resign
membership in the Union at their sole discretion. Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to
require that any employee of the Department join the Union as a condition of being hired or
retained in employment.
Employees who are not members of the Union shall not be required to pay dues to the Union.
Neither the Union nor the Commission shall discriminate in favor of, or against, any employee by
reason of membership or non-membership in the Union. The wages and benefits provided under
this Agreement shall apply to all employees.
ARTICLE 9
STRIKES AND WORK STOPPAGES
The Union shall not instigate, sponsor, or encourage any activity or action in contravention of the
provisions or intent of this Article.
No employee shall, alone or in concert, engage in, initiate, sponsor, support or direct a strike,
work stoppage, or refuse in the course of employment to perform assigned duties; or withhold,
curtail or restrict services or otherwise interfere with the operations of the Department or
encourage others to do so; or engage or participate in any other form of job action.
ARTICLE 10
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
“Grievance” means an alleged violation, misinterpretation, or misapplication with respect to one
or more employees, of any provision of this Agreement.
Grievances at all levels will be in writing. A grievance must start at STEP 1, unless otherwise
noted, and proceed through the procedure at each STEP thereafter until a settlement is reached,
or the grievance will be considered as settled on the last answer given. Ifa grievance is settled in
any one of the STEPS, it will be considered closed, and the grievance will not be subject to the
Grievance Procedure thereafter. If the grievance is not answered within the time timits listed, the
grievant may proceed to the next STEP, unless otherwise noted below.
SECTION A
STEP 1. An employee or the Union having the grievance will present the grievance in writing to
his/her Bureau Commander within seven (7) calendar days of its occurrence. The Bureau
Commander will reply in writing to the grievant within seven (7) calendar days after the grievance
is presented. If the grievance is directed at the grievant Bureau Commander, then the grievance
may be started at STEP 2, as applicable.
STEP 2. Failing a settlement at STEP 1, the grievant may present the grievance in writing to the
appropriate Deputy Chief in writing within seven (7) calendar days after the reply in STEP 1. The
appropriate Deputy Chief will reply in writing to the grievant within seven (7) calendar days after
the grievance is presented. If the appropriate Deputy Chief is unavailable, the grievance will go
