Grievance Handling -- How to interpret contract language

Figuring out what the contract actually says is not always easy

Sometimes stewards feel that they need a law degree to do their jobs correctly. That's because the key to success in most grievances lies in being able to interpret what the contract says.

And that can sometimes be very difficult.

You don't need to be a lawyer, though, to interpret your collective bargaining agreement. You just need to learn some of the methods lawyers and arbitrators use to interpret the contract and how it applies to the grievance you are handling.

First, you'll want to see if this subject has come up in other grievances and, if so, how the matter was handled in the past. Generally, the resolution of a prior grievance on the same matter will determine how you'll resolve this grievance.

If the issue hasn't been addressed before, you need to determine whether it is mentioned in the contract, either directly or by reference to another document. If so, your job of interpreting begins.