What is a grievance? What should I do if I think I have a grievance?

A written grievance is a formal complaint by an employee who believes the employer has violated your union contract. Your contract spells out a process for resolving grievances with your employer [the ‘grievance procedure.’] Every contract is different. Read your union contract for more details.

If you think you have a griveance, first ask yourself the following questions:

Is there a real basis for the complaint? Which article of your contract has been violated?

Is it timely? Your union contract specifies deadlines for each step of the grievance procedure. If you’re not sure, talk to your union steward. Don’t miss your filing timelines!

Gather all the information: Who, What, When, Where, and How did the incident occur?

This Grievance Intake Form may be helpful in collecting your notes on the incident. You can use this form to organize your information before you talk to your steward or SEIU organizer.

Next, contact your union steward and discuss your concerns. Keep in mind that there may be other ways to address your issue without filing a grievance. Your union steward can help you with ideas and advice about whether a grievance is the best option in your situation.

If you are a steward, check out Problem Solving 101 and Disputes and Grievances in SEIU's on-line stewards manual before contacting your SEIU organizer.

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