The USA contract gives every unit employee the right under Article #27 (page 111) to try and resolve disagreements over the application of the contract. Unit employees are protected while exercising their Article #27 rights. You have rights, and you have a right to exercise those rights. Section #6 of Article #27 provides those protections. Time limits are important to grievance cases. They may be extended by mutual agreement.

FIRST STEP

Contact your Steward to file a Grievance form (Appendix G) with your immediate supervisor or with an appropriate management person within 10 working days after the occurrence of a contract violation or of the date you had "reasonable knowledge" of the violation.

The supervisor shall meet to resolve the dispute and issue a written decision within 10 working days of the meeting.

SECOND STEP

If you are dissatisfied with the step one decision, USA will assist you in filing a second step appeal with your intermediate supervisor within 10 working days after receipt of the step one decision.

The Department Head, or other authorized person will set a meeting to resolve the dispute, and issue a written decision within 10 working days of the meeting.

THIRD STEP

If you are dissatisfied with the step two decision, USA will assist you in filing a third step appeal within 10 working days after receipt of the step two decision.

The Chief Executive Officer or authorized person will set a meeting to attempt to resolve the dispute, and will issue a written decision within 10 working days of the third step meeting.

FOURTH STEP

If you are dissatisfied with the step three decision, USA will assist you in filing a fourth step appeal, with the Trustees' representative within 10 working days of the step three decision.

The Trustees, through the President's Office, will issue a decision within 30 working days of receipt of the appeal to this step, or within 30 days of receipt of a brief (which must be filed within 10 days of a step four filing). There is no meeting at the fourth step.

FIFTH STEP

If you are dissatisfied with the fourth step decision, you will have to ask USA to file an Arbitration on your behalf within 15 working days of receipt of the step four decision. USA has the exclusive right to file arbitrations, and is not required to file for any request. The USA Executive Board alone has the exclusive right to decide, and will exercise reasonable and prudent judgement, weighing the merits of each case carefully. Arbitrations often cost several thousands of dollars per case.

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