If you feel you were treated unfairly, you can file a grievance against your employer through CUPE 2626. Grievances may pertain to selection process, allotted number of work hours in your contract, harassment, discrimination, evaluation procedures, health and safety, employment entitlements, and many other rights and privileges established both by Canadian labour laws and our different Collective Agreements with the University of Ottawa.

You have a legal right to be part of a union and to have your rights protected through a fair grievance procedure. An Employer cannot reprimand you in any way for exercising that right, during or after the grievance, and regardless of its outcome.

What exactly is a grievance?

A grievance is the regular process by which problems are solved in a unionized workplace. A grievance is initiated  when members believe their rights on the job have been violated. A grievance can be filed by the member, or by the Union on behalf of an individual or group, to address a wide range of issues.

Our Collective Agreements describe how CUPE 2626 and the University have agreed to handle grievances. The aim of this process is to provide the means to resolve a workplace issue through formal negotiation.

If you decide to file a grievance, you will have CUPE 2626’s support throughout the various steps of the process. We will draft the necessary documents, help you understand the possible outcomes, make sure we meet the deadlines and attend meetings with you.

Remember: CUPE 2626 takes your right to confidentiality seriously! We will never communicate with your Employer without your explicit and clear consent. If you would like to file a grievance or have questions regarding whether or not you could file a grievance, contact your Lifeguard Representative and cc’d our Legal Support Coordinator at legal@cupe2626.ca.