The next classified organizing meeting will be Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011 at 4:15 p.m. at the high school. Please put this date on your calendar. As in the past, collective actions have proven to make a difference in bargaining a fair contract for the Parkrose classified.

Parkrose certified are bargaining on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2011, at 5:30 p.m. in the district office. They will be bargaining again on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. (location for this date has yet to be determined).  Please plan on attending and showing your support for the certified.

Classes Start Sept. 6.

Jean Brine, Co-President
Judy Lovas, Co-President
Donna Richards, Vice President
Sue Casciano, Treasurer
Barb Harford, Secretary

While every grievance begins as a complaint, all complaints do not become grievances. In order to know what complaints can be processed as grievances, you will need to refer to the definition of a grievance in the collective bargaining agreement between the Sussex County Community College Professional Staff Federation and Sussex County Community College. As you will see in “Article XII” of the contract, a grievance can arise from an alleged misinterpretation, misapplication or violation of the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement or College policies that affect the terms and working conditions of employment.

The purpose of the grievance procedure is to provide for the speedy, orderly and equitable resolution of disputes.

Inherent in the grievance procedure is the remedy sought which must be identified in order to make the grievant whole. In selecting an appropriate remedy, it is important to keep in mind that the purpose of the remedy is restoration not retribution. The remedy should be consistent with the collective bargaining agreement in order to protect the integrity of the contract.

If you feel that the conditions for a grievance have been met, please do the following:

1. Carefully document all facts including dates and times pertaining to the grievance.

2. Contact Jan Jones, Grievance Chair, for assistance.

Remember that there is a big difference between a gripe and a grievance. A grievance is a formal challenge to the employer that the contract has been violated. 

Fortunately, most problems can be settled informally without filing paperwork. But it is imperative that you contact the local leadership as soon as possible when you feel you have a grievance. There are strict timelines for the filing process, and they start the minute the violation takes place.