Can I file a grievance against my employee union?

Question

If I feel that my union is not representing me fairly, can I file grievance against them?

Answer 1

Depends. If the union resolved the matter with management, but not to your complete satisfaction, you don't have a case. For example, if you were suspended for 5 days and the union got you 5 days wages, and you felt that you should have gotten wages and overtime pay, that is not unfair representation. When you signed the membership card, you gave the union full and complete authority to represent you and in the example above, they did.

However, if the union did not make a full and fair presentation of the facts of your case, or dropped the matter at the 1st/2nd Step of the grievance procedure, merely accepting management's "No Violation" answer, then you may have a case.

The agency you want to contact is The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), usually referred to as "The Board". Look under the Departartment of Labor in the phone book (in some areas the NLRB has its own listing, or Google "NLRB").

Before you contact the Board, get all the facts that you can:

1. Start with identifying, in detail, the incident that required union involvement - discipline, overtime distribution, other contract violation term or condition of employment .

2. Get the names of the union reps you talked with, from the shop steward to the local grievance committeemen to the Regional Rep./Business Agent.

3. Document the conversations what was said, by whom and when. Especially the reasons they gave for not pursuing it. ("Cost of arbitration" is pretextual and not a good response, since it is your dues, and those of your brother/sister members, which are supposed to cover such costs of representation.)

4. Document or get statements from any person who overheard any of the conversations between you and other union members.
(I would reccommend that you do it in such a way as not to arouse suspicion as to your intention to file a "grievance" against the union.)

Remember, all of your statements should contain facts in a logical sequence, not assumptions and should be detailed as to who, what, where, when, why, and how.

Answer 2

And who will hear the case? You may have to resign from the Union

Answer 3

Yes, they have a duty to represent you. You have paid them money. Your specific remedy may either be a lawsuit or a complaint to the international.

Answer 4

if you do they have the right to yank your union card best this to do is to talk to the local union rep instead of the inhouse one....