3-6. Adjustment of Grievances–School Level

3-6.1. Informal Resolution

A sincere attempt should be made to resolve any dispute on an informal basis between the grievant or the UNION delegate or UNION and the principal or the grievant’s head administrator if the grievant is not assigned to an individual school before the dispute becomes formalized as a grievance.

3-6.2. Deadline for Filing Grievances

A grievant or the UNION shall file grievances in writing within forty-five school days after the occurrence of the event giving rise to the alleged violation, or within forty-five school days from the time the grievant or the UNION should reasonably have become aware of the occurrence of the event giving rise to the alleged violation, whichever is later, except in the case of a salary grievance. For salary grievances filed on or after November 1, 2012, the grievant or the UNION may file a grievance within three calendar years of the date on which the salary grievance arose. Salary grievances filed within three calendar years shall be deemed timely.

3-6.3. Substance of Grievance

A grievance must bear the signature of the grievant, the UNION delegate or the UNION President, specifying the complaint(s) and/or violation(s) alleged and a brief statement of facts sufficient to allow a response.

3-6.4. Joint Grievances and Consolidation

If two or more grievants have the same grievance, a joint grievance may be presented and processed as a single grievance. Further, the parties by mutual agreement may consolidate other grievances

3-6.5. Initial Conference

Upon receipt of a grievance in writing, the principal or the grievant’s head administrator if the grievant is not assigned to an individual school shall confer within five school days with the grievant and others involved in the grievance. At this conference the facts shall be discussed, and an effort shall be made to adjust the matter to the satisfaction of all concerned.

3-6.6. Representation

The grievant may be heard personally and may be represented by the UNION delegate, the UNION President or the UNION President’s designee.

3-6.7. Communication of Decision

The principal or the grievant’s head administrator if the grievant is not assigned to an individual school shall make a decision and communicate it and the bases for the decision in writing to the grievant, the UNION delegate or UNION designee and the Director of Employee Engagement within five school days after the completion of the conference.