Grievance Levels

NJC Grievances

The first level of the procedure is the same as the first level of a standard grievance procedure.

The second level of the procedure is the Departmental Liaison Officer (DLO) or Agency Liaison Officer, who is appointed by the deputy head.

Grievances processed to the final level of the procedure are submitted to the National Joint Council General Secretary. The General Secretary is responsible to the Executive Committee for the administration of the procedure.

The General Secretary has a number of options in processing a grievance at the final level depending upon the grievance. Those options are:

1. Recommend denial of jurisdiction to the Executive Committee should the grievance be on a matter not contained in an NJC directive or policy, or where the grievance has not been submitted within the requried time limits.
2. Recommend to the Executive Committee that it respond directly to the grievance on the basis of previous precedent decisions.
3. Refer the grievance, in the name of the Executive Committee, to the working committee of Council responsible for the directive or policy, for a statement of intent.

In the majority of cases, grievances are referred to a working committee. The working committee then holds an informal hearing where representatives of the grievor's bargaining agent and the department or agency are invited to make representations.  The working committee then reports to the Executive Committee through the General Secretary as to whether the grievor has been treated within the intent of the directive or policy. The Executive Committee considers the recommendation and makes a decision which becomes the final level reply given to the employee through the employing department or agency.