Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-04-02
Regional
Views
By Richard Gosser
Vice-President
international UAW~CIO

international UAW~CIO
seem to be going in for union procedure"
lately but it all stems from conversations and
''gripes' which l accidentally stumble into
But, find by getting into various conversa-
tions with the members who congregate that
1 discover a lot of things our people seem
to be in the dark" about and just simple
little explanation clears up problems which
they seem to have One of the remarks
heard lately was 81 can't get my grievance
settled! Nobody seems to want to do any
thing about it. am just being pushed about"
Well now 1 stopped that fellow and asked
him what his trouble was After listening to
his story l find the actual trouble wasn't
something you could place directly on any
bodys doorstep. 1t was lack of knowledge OF
the Grievance Procedure" More MS tauIt
than the committees or any one else IN the
union.
Right now want to assure each and every
member of our union, it is the sincere desire
of the officers and committeeman to see tnat
every member is dealt with Justly ana 1alry'
at all times, so that every grievance is pro-
cessed for the benefit of the lndlVloual mem
Der. 1t also benefits him. too. 1t estaollsneS
him as being a good officer, to whom the
neon1e can take their problems and feel as
sured of having them properly taken care o.
But, here too sad as it may seem, is case
of lack of knowledge of procedure
PROCEDURE
There are any number of officers and COM e
mitteemen who don't know, or fail TO properly
follow the correct procedure. Inc result IS
confusion, dissatisfied members, dlslllusloneo
officers and so on So, today I'd like to take
a little of YOUR time and outline the proper
steps that should be taken in all grievances:
Further. / would like to state that VIII
always be willing to meet anyone IN my otIlce
on any problem they might have, even grew
ance that has not properly processed to the
last step want to assure you that my goaNs
will always be to attempt to get the work.
what he is rightfully entitled to, but II tne
grievance is not processed properly VIII
automatically have to return them to the snoP
to get it processed to me) For that reason,
it is nv opinion that the members should fol-
low out the procedure as outlined in their
contract and our unions step as outlined IN
the constitution. You know, none of us are
mind readers We don't know what is bother
ing the individual if he will not put 1t In writ
ing So here are the following steps
To begin when you have grievance in
YOUR department you take it to your steward.
If he isn't able to iron 1t out to your salts
faction and you feel you are still aggrieved,
then PUT IT IN WRITING! 1t is then the re-
sponsibility of the executive officers, whether
it be Local Union or Unit of an Amalgamated
Local to process your grievance to the next
step Failing to settle it there it is then to
be taken by the entire set of officers OF ting
plant to the head of the corporation.
STEP BY STEP
If no agreement is reached at this step it
becomes the property of your next shop meet
ing The decision of the majority rules whether
the next step will be carried out and then this
grievance can be turned over to the Interna-
tional Union and it is the responsibility of the
Director to see that the officers of the plant,
himself or someone from his staff plus the
heads of the corporation are all present at
which time the grievance is supposed to be
settled At this meeting, if it Is not success
fully brought to an end it must go to some
type of arbitration or by the will of the
majority in the plant, il can be carried out
through an economic struggle (speaklng In
union language-strlke).
There seem to be too many of us who have
grievances and when the steward fails to act
we just forget it rather than putting 1T II:
writing This is wrong! In the future, ed.
grievance is worthwhile talking about 1t 10
worthwhile putting it in writing and follow
ing the outlined steps. want to assure every
member that if this is done properly you VIII
obtain your rightful share under the contract
that exists between your union and corpora
ton at all times, as l fell certain that the
director and his staff can get the corporation
to live up to the contract we have signed with
them
l think this is one of the things that would
help our union immensely. If some of our
members, rather than walking around with a
grippe, telling everyone but the right person
about it, would take the time to take it to the
steward and the steward taking the right
steps, we would have a lot more happier
people.
The thing seem to be trying to "selI' is
cooperation. l guess it is a matter of selling
or educating, but whatever it is, / sincerely
hope l am able to reach the majority with
this message as believe by clearing up some
of our union problems among the people and
if the people will cooperate and follow the
correct procedures l am sure it will get all
of us results-happier, more satisfied men,
bers, better and more capable officers and in
cidentally little less condemnation for the
union and l believe the general public will
feel better towards our union if we ourselves
speak we'll of it.