Steward tip for the week of June 30, 2008

What to Do If the Grievant’s Story Changes

You’re sitting in a grievance meeting with a grievant whose story you have reviewed countless times.  But in the middle of the meeting the grievant tells another part of the story that you have never heard, and it changes the nature of the situation entirely.  Try not to look surprised – and ask for a caucus.  It’s all you can do.  Use the caucus to figure out how this new piece of information fits into the case.  Apply your own “unjust” test:  if what happened to the grievant still seems unjust, you may have to concede the new information to management as a minor point, but argue that overall, other facts are more important and contribute to the “unjustness” of the situation.  If you can’t figure out a new strategy, ask for a postponement of the meeting.  If the new information is too damaging, the union may have to drop the grievance.  At a minimum, though, try to buy your side some time to regroup and consult with the chief steward or union representative.  Thorough preparation with the grievant and checking out the situation with a variety of people can help prevent this, but even the most experienced stewards report this happens to them periodically.

Adapted from The Union Steward’s Complete Guide, 2nd Edition, edited by David Prosten

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