14.02 Grievance Procedure:
A. DEFINITION
1. A breach, misinterpretation or improper application of the terms of this Agreement; or
2. A claimed violation, misinterpretation, or misapplication of rules or regulations, existing policy or orders of the University affecting the terms and conditions of employment.
B. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to assure prompt and equitable solutions of problems arising from the administration of this Agreement or other conditions of employment by providing an exclusive vehicle for the settlement of bargaining unit member grievances and to facilitate the uninterrupted operations of the University.
C. GENERAL PROVISION
No grievance settlement reached under the terms of this agreement shall add to, subtract from or modify any terms of this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as compelling the Union to submit a grievance to arbitration. When a grievant has Union representation, the Union’s decision to request the movement of any grievant at any step or to terminate the grievance at any step shall be final as to the interests of the grievant and the Union.
The terms of this Article shall not apply to probationary staff members. This exclusion shall not apply to regular staff serving a probationary period due to a change in job title which is included in the negotiating unit, except that under no circumstances will the University’s judgment as to the adequacy of the staff member’s performance/conduct and/or attendance in a probationary period or any action taken in pursuance thereof be deemed to be discipline or subject to grievance.
All time limits are of the essence and may be extended only by mutual agreement between authorized representatives of the University and the Union. Grievances not raised and processed in strict and absolute accordance with the grievance procedures and time limits will be waived by the Union and staff member and will not be considered.
A grievance which affects a substantial number or class of staff members, or in a case of suspension or discharge, or which the University representative at Step One lacks the authority to settle, may initially be presented a Step Two of the grievance procedure.
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