Reasons for filing a grievance:

• Correct violations
• Protect faculty and union rights
• Achieve clarity in interpretation
• Expand the contract
• Reduce tension in the work environment
• Effect change in the work environment
• Establish precedent
• Strengthen future negotiations

Reasons for taking grievances to arbitration:

• No acceptable settlement could be negotiated
• You have a winner

  Additional considerations:

  • Strength of the evidence
  • Requirements of the Contract
  • Effect of breach on the employee
  • Interests of the bargaining unit
  • Interestes of the Union

  Dangers of a loss:

  • Rewrites the contract
  • Extends it to others in the unit
  • Impacts the next generation
  • Determines subsequent cases
  • Influences the relationships on campus