If you think that your contract has been violated, follow these steps:

1.) Remember that timelines and documentation are very important. Save everything.

2.) Check your contract to find out if the action that has occurred is a violation of your contract. The Ed Code is also a valuable source of information.

3.) Try to solve the problem on your own. Confer with your site rep for advice. Save copies of all e-mails and written documentation. If a meeting is involved, ask your site rep to attend the meeting with you.

4.) If you are not successful in solving the problem in 10 working days, contact your grievance committee.

5.) Remember that you and the grievance committee have only 45 days to notify the district of a potential grievance. In that 45 days you must show an effort to resolve the problem. So don't wait.

Frequently asked Questions:

I couldn't solve it on my own. What do I do now? Remember that time lines are very important. Please contact your grievance officer to allow us time to deal with your concern.

Where in the contract is the grievance procedure addressed? Article V l l l

Will I be labeled a trouble maker? Not at all. The District has agreed to the language in the contract and is obligated to follow Ed code. It is your right to have misinterpretations of your contract resolved and a grievance is the process set in place by the contract to do so. 

Contract Article V l l l, Section F  "No reprisals of any kind will be taken by the Superintendent or by any member or representative of the administration or the Board against any aggrieved party, any party in interest, any member of the Association or any other participant in the grievance procedure by reason of such participation."

Can I file a grievance anonymously? If more than one person is affected, our union may grieve situations for the good of all while keeping the aggrieved party confidential. Other times this cannot happen, but you deserve what is right. In fact, when situations violating our contract are allowed to continue, our contract is weakened.

How do you file a grievance? When you contact the grievance officers, we will attempt to solve the problem on your behalf. If we cannot, we will fill out the grievance form notifying them of our intent to grieve unless a solution is resolved. We have 45 days to inform the district in writing, and then they have 10 days to meet with the party and to respond in writing. The entire process is designed to peacefully resolve the problem and to support the rights provided in the contract for each employee. After the grievance is started, It may be dropped at any time or when a satisfactory solution is reached.

How can I avoid problems in the first place? Know your contract. Read it and be familiar with it so you know when it is being violated.