FREE online courses on Employee Grievances and Discipline - Model Grievance Procedure

 

The Model Grievance Procedure suggested by the National Commission on Labor involves six successive time-bound steps each leading to the next, in case of dissatisfaction. The aggrieved worker in the first instance will approach the foreman and tells him of his grievance orally. The foreman has to redress his grievance and if the worker is not satisfied with this redressal, he can approach the supervisor. The supervisor has to provide an answer  within 48 hours. In the event of the supervisor not giving an answer or the answer not being acceptable to the worker, the worker goes to the next step. At this stage the worker (either alone or accompanied by his departmental representative) approaches the Head of the Department who has to give an answer within three days. If the Departmental Head fails to give an answer or if the worker is not satisfied with his answer, the worker may appeal to the Grievance Committee, consisting of the representatives of the employer and employees. The recommendations of this Committee should be communicated to the Manager within seven days from the date of the grievance reaching it. Unanimous decisions, if any, of the committee shall be implemented by the management. If there is no unanimity, the views of the members of the Committee shall be placed before the manager for his decision. The manager has to take a decision and inform the worker within three days.

 

The worker can make an appeal against the manager's decision and such an appeal has to be decided within a week. A union official may accompany the worker to the manager for discussion and if no decision is arrived at this stage, both the union and management may refer the grievance to voluntary arbitration within a week of the receipt of the management's decision. The worker in actual practice may not resort to all the above-mentioned steps. For example, if the grievance is because of his dismissal or discharge he can resort to the second step directly and he can make an appeal against dismissal or discharge.