AN120673 – Charitable Institutions (Professional Staff Social Workers)(State) Award

23. GRIEVANCE AND DISPUTE SETTLING PROCEDURES

23.1 The following procedure shall be followed in relation to grievances of individual employees:

(a) The employee is required to notify the employer in writing as to the substance of the grievance, request a meeting with the employer for bilateral discussions and state the remedy sought.

(b) A grievance must initially be dealt with as close to its source as possible, with graduated steps for further discussion and resolution at higher levels of authority.

(c) Reasonable time limits must be allowed for discussion at each level of authority.

(d) At the conclusion of the discussion, the employer must provide a response to the employee's grievance, if the matter has not been resolved, including reasons for not implementing any proposed remedy.

(e) While a procedure is being followed, normal work must continue.

23.2 The following procedure shall be followed in relation to disputes, etc., between employers and their employees:

(a) A question, dispute or difficulty must initially be dealt with as close to its source as possible, with graduated steps for further discussion and resolution at higher levels of authority.

(b) Reasonable time limits must be allowed for discussion at each level of authority.

(c) While a procedure is being followed, normal work must continue.

23.3 For the procedure set out in subclauses 23.1 and 23.2 of this clause, the employer may be represented by an industrial organisation of employers, and the employees may be represented by the union or the union's representative.

23.4 For the purpose of this clause, union representative shall mean an employee appointed as a union representative who shall, upon notification to the employer in writing thereof and within 14 days of such appointment, be recognised as the accredited representative of the union.

23.5 This clause shall not apply to an employer who employs not more than 20 employees or an employer with a management structure under which all employees are directly supervised and controlled by the employer or the chief executive of the facility.