Good Records Help the Steward and the Local

Find a System That Works For You and Your Local

The suggestions given here can help you come up with your own method. Take suggestions. Learn from others. No single method is foolproof, but people have devised some very helpful systems through their many years of handling grievances.

In the end, whatever system works for you is the best one, but the basic components of the system should be consistent for everyone in your local. For example, if you don't already have one in place, your local should establish a tracking-number system. You don't want to have every steward making up his or her own numbering system. Likewise, that number should appear in the same location on every steward's documents. Systems are not systems unless they are consistent.

Grievances should be given numbers as early in the grievance process as possible. Doing so not only helps you process your grievance, if you ever need to look back at past grievances, you'll be able to keep them separate even if the grievance was solved very early in the process.

Grievances won at the step one and two levels are very important. They can be used as precedents for future grievances, and they might be used in contract negotiations.

You won't always be there. Files that are self-explanatory or which are based on a system everyone uses will be helpful even if you aren't around to answer questions.