Abstract This paper discusses grievance resolution in the workplace. The paper then looks at the benefits of a labor union in the way that it can resolve the grievances of the company's workforce. The paper specifically looks at the United States Postal Service (USPS) which is represented by the American Postal Workers' Union (APWU) as an excellent example of how grievances are resolved between an employer and a workforce represented by a labor union.
Table of Contents:
Dispute Resolution
From the Paper "In those instances where the employee has not been issued the appropriate verbal and written warnings, and has been suspended from work for infractions of the employer's rules and regulations, the employer has a strong case - but not necessarily one that will result in the termination of the employee (Walsh, 1992, p. 179). The union will prepare a response to the termination, and, if the union is in disagreement with the employer's termination of the employee, a hearing is scheduled between the union and the USPS to present and to hear one another's cases. In the case of a hearing, an impartial administrative law judge (ALJ), who normally possesses an expertise in labor law, will be assigned to hear the case - all expenses are paid by the employer. Both the employer and the union are represented by lawyers at this point who are employed by the USPS and the APWU. The APWU lawyer is paid by the APWU."
