Start Your Grievance

A grievance is a formal complaint that is raised by an employee towards an employer within the workplace. Reasons for filing a grievance in the workplace can be as a result of, but not limited to, a breach of the terms and conditions of the contract, 
​pay issues, unjust disciplines, scheduling issues, seniority rights or workplace issues to name a few. 
A grievance between an employee and employer can be dealt with either informally or formally. 
Grievance Process
  • Must be presented to management within 30 days of violation.
  • While a nurse can discuss their issue initially with management, the union encourages a paper trail notice to management so as to document the date, time, issue and request for payment. 
  • Send an email to the manager with cc to your labor rep, nurse rep and HR.
  • Use your home email address and not your Sutter email address.
  • State your issues concisely (I was cancelled inappropriately, I was not paid correctly, I was denied my PEL).
  • Include any dates applicable, names of individuals involved, reasons why denied regarding your issues.
  • Request payment or correction of issue (include hrs., dollar amount, shifts, etc.).
  • The grievance should be adjusted or response received within 7 calendar days.
  • If paid notify your rep ASAP
What if my grievance is not settled in 7 days by management?
  • Grievance will be moved to step two.
  • Depending on the type of grievance it will be handled in the normal monthly meeting, or reduced to writing to a more formal meeting with HR and the union in an attempt to resolve the issue(s). The usual time frame is 14 days from filing but may be extended by mutual agreement.
  • ​Must be filed within 30 days of presentation in step one.
  • If suspension or discharge it must be presented within seven calendar days of the suspension or discharge
  • A clerical error grievance may be presented within one year from date of error. ​​
Additional Steps
  • The additional steps of mediation and arbitration are used infrequently and can be found under section 36.2 of the contract.
  • The decision to move forward is determined by the labor rep.
​
Initial Sample Email to Manager
To: Manager X at Sutterhealth.org
Cc: Labor rep, Nurse Rep, HR

I was cancelled inappropriately on Thursday February 15 on my evening shift when SH Nurse X worked while I was cancelled. I was on my regular FTE shift and the SH Nurse was on an extra day. This is a violation of 23.2 of the contract.

I am requesting 8 hrs. pay at evening rate.

Thank you
Strong Union Nurse
What you should never do regarding your grievance!
  • NEVER forward email that says see below what my rep said;
  • NEVER forward all of the email/text conversations between you and your rep to management;
  • NEVER email any strategy that was discussed between you and your rep to management;
  • NEVER email several different reps to see if you get different answers or the answer you want;
  • NEVER accept management's explanations as fact;
  • NEVER misquote a section of the contract;
  • NEVER give your interpretation of the contract;
  • NEVER guess at the section of the contract involved;
  • NEVER guess at the facts or not provide any facts to your rep;
  • NEVER send your explanation of what happened to management without representation from your rep;
  • NEVER send your email if in doubt without discussing your issue with your rep;
  • NEVER side deal with your manager and HR first then ask us to clean up the mess when they don’t fix it;
  • NEVER forget to provide a paper trail;
  • NEVER give up because the process requires too much work or time.

Link to Nurse Reps