The question in this grievance is whether or not management violated the 1981 National Agreement by not allowing a union steward to question members of a quality-control team which was conducting a survey in this local office. The steward contends that he was conducting an investigation in accordance with Article 17, Section 3. According to the file, management contends that the steward would provide no specifics as to why he wished to talk to the quality-control team. Management states that the steward indicated he wished to talk to the team because he had the right to do so. We mutually agreed that a steward shall have the right to interview aggrieved employees, supervisors, and witnesses when processing a grievance or determining if a grievance exists. On the other hand, a reasonable basis for interviewing such aggrieved employees, supervisors, and witnesses must also exist. It appears that the type of cooperation expressed in the Step 2 answer may have gone far in resolving this matter.
Document Type: Step 4 Agreement
APWU National Grievance Number: H1C4HC18205
Craft: Clerk