6 Important Tips for Grievance Meetings

As a Union Steward you will, in most cases, be dealing with the immediate supervisor when trying to solve problems, handle and present grievances.  Developing a good working relationship with supervisors and other management representatives when handling grievances is important.  Ideally stewards, supervisors and other management representatives should respect each other and treat each other accordingly.  Following are some tips for grievance meetings:

1.  Prepare with your Union Representative for the meeting. 

  • Use your grievance fact sheet to help organize your case.

  • Prepare / outline your case (highlight your main points).

  • Consult with other stewards and/or union representatives if you have any questions.

  • Have a direct, positive statement of your goal for the meeting as an opening statement – such as:  ‘We’re here to resolve Don Newcomb’s discipline grievance as the union feels management lacks just cause for discipline.”

  • State the strongest points in the union’s favor and have documentation for each point.

  • Anticipate management’s position and be ready to respond.

  • Be able to state the precise remedy the union is asking for such as “the union wants the discipline removed and the grievant be made whole.”

2.  Prepare the member for the meeting. 

  • Walk the member through what happens at the meeting and what to expect.

  • Make sure the member understands what the union’s arguments will be and why.

  • Make sure the member knows what to say and what not to say in the meeting.

3.  During the meeting. 

  • Be confident.  Remember you are an equal to management when you are serving in your steward capacity.

  • Refuse the bait when management attempts to make you feel angry, defensive, or inadequate.

  • Question anything you don’t understand.  The only stupid question is the one that isn’t asked.

  • Take a break whenever you need to regroup, discuss matters or settlement proposals, or when there is any disagreement on your side of the table - never disagree with your Union Representative in front of management.

  • Don’t let management draw you off on tangents or side issues. 

  • Don’t let the member argue with the supervisor or other management representatives.

  • Remember, management has the burden of proof in discipline and discharge cases.

4.  Keep your cool.

  • Don’t lose control of yourself and the situation.

  • Listen. 

  • Take notes. 

  • Disagree with dignity.

5.  Settle grievances at the lowest possible level. 

  • It gets our member a solution to their issue. 

  • It strengthens the union if stewards can handle problems rather than passing every problem up the ladder.

  • It puts you in a problem solving mode rather than a confrontational mode.

6.  Follow up and keep your members informed.