AN140296 – Teachers' Award - Non-Governmental Schools 2003

3.2 GRIEVANCE AND DISPUTE SETTLING PROCEDURE

The matters to be dealt with in this procedure shall include all grievances or disputes between an employee and an employer in respect to any industrial matter and all other matters that the parties agree on and are specified herein. Such procedures shall apply to a single employee or to any number of employees.

3.2.1 In the event of an employee having a grievance or dispute the employee shall in the first instance attempt to resolve the matter with the immediate supervisor, who shall respond to such request as soon as reasonably practicable under the circumstances. Where the dispute concerns alleged actions of the immediate supervisor the employee/s may bypass this level in the procedure.

3.2.2 If the grievance or dispute is not resolved under clause 3.2.1, the employee or the employee's representative may refer the matter to the next higher level of management for discussion. Such discussion should, if possible, take place within 24 hours after the request by the employee or the employee's representative.

3.2.3 If the grievance involves allegations of unlawful discrimination by a supervisor the employee may commence the grievance resolution process by reporting the allegations to the next level of management beyond that of the supervisor concerned. If there is no level of management beyond that involved in the allegation the employee may proceed directly to the process outlined at clause 3.2.5.

3.2.4 If the grievance or dispute is still unresolved after discussions mentioned in clause 3.2.2, the matter shall, in the case of a member of the Union, be reported to the relevant officer of the Union and the senior management of the employer or the employer's nominated industrial representative. An employee who is not a member of the Union may report the grievance or dispute to senior management or the nominated industrial representative. This should occur as soon as it is evident that discussions under clause 3.2.2 will not result in resolution of the dispute.

3.2.5 If, after discussion between the parties, or their nominees mentioned in clause 3.2.4, the dispute remains unresolved after the parties have genuinely attempted to achieve a settlement thereof, then notification of the existence of the dispute is to be given to the Commission in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

3.2.6 Whilst all of the above procedure is being followed, normal work shall continue except in the case of a genuine safety issue.

3.2.7 The status quo existing before the emergence of the grievance or dispute is to continue whilst the above procedure is being followed.

3.2.8 All parties to the dispute shall give due consideration to matters raised or any suggestion or recommendation made by the Commission with a view to the prompt settlement of the dispute.

3.2.9 Any Order or Decision of the Commission (subject to the parties' right of appeal under the Act) will be final and binding on all parties to the dispute.

3.2.10 Discussions at any stage of the procedure shall not be unreasonably delayed by any party, subject to acceptance that some matters may be of such complexity or importance that it may take a reasonable period of time for the appropriate response to be made. If genuine discussions are unreasonably delayed or hindered, it shall be open to any party to give notification of the dispute in accordance with the provisions of the Act.