Page 16 - September Issue

LODGE 7 LABOR CORNER Working your way through the grievance process
PAT FIORETTO
As Lodge 7 celebrates the inaugural release of its new magazine, I want to introduce myself and our Firm to those Lodge 7 members whom we have not met. Our firm, Baum Sigman Auerbach and Neuman, Ltd., handles many of the labor matters involving Lodge 7. Among other things, we provide daily guidance to the administration, handle grievance arbitrations, assist in the medical mediation process, pursue claims in both state and federal courts, help in the negotiation process with the city of Chica-
go, and handle unfair labor practice charges at the State Labor Relations Board – just to list a few.
The new “Chicago Lodge 7 Magazine” will contain not only articles from Lodge 7's Officers and Field Representatives, but also regularly include contributions from a variety of professionals and organizations, all in an effort to help keep the membership well informed. Along with my partners Brian Hlavin, Catherine Chapman and Laura Finnegan, we will be sub- mitting monthly articles on various labor topics, including rele- vant legal decisions and how they impact the members of Lodge 7. A well-informed membership is a healthy one.
To begin with, many of you may have some experience with fil-
ing grievances, while others have not. Article 9 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) sets forth the procedures to be fol- lowed by not only the city, but also the Lodge and the aggrieved Police Officer (or grievant). Obviously, one of the most important requirements in pursuing any grievance is to comply with the time limits. Pursuant to the CBA, “the grievant will first submit his or her grievance in writing to his or her immediate supervisor in
his or her unit of assignment within seven of the officer's working days following the events or circumstances giving rise to the grievance or where first known by the grievant, or 35 days, whichever period is shorter.” Failure to comply with the initial time limit can prove fatal to the further pro-
cessing of the grievance.
Also, the grievance must be reduced to writing on pre-print- ed, standard grievance forms, which are available throughout the Districts. Any questions or concerns, both as to how to fill out a written grievance or when to file it, should be directed initially to your Unit Reps or a Lodge Representative. When in doubt, make sure you reach out to a Lodge Representative.
As the grievance works its way through the process, it may be resolved to the grievant’s satisfaction. This can occur either at the District level or through an informal mediation process. In either
event, the grievant is encouraged to participate in any and all
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16 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ SEPTEMBER 2015