{"id":1517,"date":"2025-07-18T15:17:39","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T20:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/?page_id=1517"},"modified":"2026-03-20T09:13:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T14:13:03","slug":"university-staff-grievance-committee","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-grievance-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"University Staff Grievance Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"uwm-l-row\">\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col\">\n<p class=\"size-p-lg\">The UWM University Staff Grievance Committee serves all UWM University Staff by hearing step two grievance cases to determine whether just cause for the discipline or discharge has been established.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-grid uwm-c-button--grid uwm-l-grid-row--30 uwm-l-grid-column--30 uwm-l-grid--2 uwm-l-grid--equal-y\">\n<a class=\"uwm-c-button\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/policy\/library\/university-staff-standing-committees-and-senate\/university-staff-grievance-committee\/\" rel=\"\">Committee Bylaws<\/a>\n\n\n\n<a class=\"uwm-c-button\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-grievance-committee\/rosters\/\" rel=\"\">Rosters<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-agendas\">Agendas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion\" data-accordion-prefix-classes=\"uwm\" data-accordion-cool-selectors=\"1\"><button class=\"uwm-p-accordion--toggle-button size-p-md\">Expand All<\/button>\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">2025-26 Agendas<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/march-4-2026-university-staff-grievance-committee-usgc-agenda\/\">March 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--header\">2024-25 Agendas<\/div><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel\"><div class=\"uwm-p-accordion--panel-inner uwm-u-clear\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20250527USGCAgenda.pdf\">May 27, 2025 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>February 7, 2025-cancelled <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20241218USGCAgenda.pdf\">December 18, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20241209USGCAgenda.pdf\">December 9, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20241125USGCAgend.pdf\">November 25, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20241030USGCAgend.pdf\">October 30, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20241018USGCAgenda.pdf\">October 18, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20240917USGCAgenda.pdf\">September 17, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20240912USGCAgenda.pdf\">September 12, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/751\/2025\/08\/20240905USGCAgenda.pdf\">September 5, 2024 (PDF)<\/a><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-grievance\">What is a Grievance?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A grievance is, in fact, the only officially recognized means to challenge a management action.&nbsp; It must be submitted to the management level of the violation within 30 days of the action that caused you to make the challenge. &nbsp;It must be done in writing, on a Grievance form.&nbsp;&nbsp; See the link, below. &nbsp;&nbsp;If the grievance is denied at that level (Step 1), it can be pursued to Step 2, by filing another copy with the UWM Department of Human Resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-should-it-include\">What Should it include?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The grievance must include the specific rule, code, or policy the management action violates.&nbsp; It must include a brief description of the violation \u2013 brief, but with enough information to describe the issue.&nbsp;&nbsp; Additional documents can be attached to demonstrate the violation.&nbsp; It must include \u201crelief sought\u201d, or what it is you want done to correct the violation.&nbsp; Finally, you must sign the form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-who-should-i-contact\">Who should I contact?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have any questions about the process or procedures, Kurt Hennemann in Human Resources, <a href=\"mailto:rommel@uwm.edu\">rommel@uwm.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-just-cause\">What is Just Cause?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the workplace, just cause is a&nbsp;burden of proof&nbsp;or standard that an employer must meet to justify discipline or discharge. Just cause usually refers to a violation of a policy or rule. In some cases, an employee may commit an act that is not specifically addressed within the employers\u2019 policies but one of which the employer believes warrants discipline or discharge. In such instances, the employer must be confident that they can defend their decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When an arbitrator looks at a discipline dispute, the arbitrator first asks whether the employee\u2019s wrongdoing has been proven by the employer, and then asks whether the method of discipline should be upheld or modified.&nbsp;UW and UWM policy is to follow the Just Cause Standard when imposing discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 1966, an arbitrator, Professor Carroll Daugherty, expanded these principles into seven tests for just cause.<sup><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Just_cause#cite_note-1\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">[1]<\/a><\/sup>&nbsp;The concepts encompassed within his seven tests are still frequently used by arbitrators when deciding discipline cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-daugherty-s-seven-tests-are-as-follows\">Daugherty\u2019s seven tests are as follows:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Was the employee forewarned of the consequences of his or her actions?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Are the employer\u2019s rules reasonably related to business efficiency and performance the employer might reasonably expect from the employee?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Was an effort made before discipline or discharge to determine whether the employee was guilty as charged?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Was the investigation conducted fairly and objectively?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Did the employer obtain substantial evidence of the employee\u2019s guilt?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Were the rules applied fairly and without discrimination?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Was the degree of discipline reasonably related to the seriousness of the employee\u2019s offense and the employee\u2019s past record?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The last test, the degree of discipline, is important because arbitrators want to ensure that the \u201cpunishment fits the crime.\u201d An employer\u2019s use of progressive discipline often gives the employer an advantage in arbitration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-additional-resources\">Additional Resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/policies\/university-staff-grievance\/\">University Staff Grievance Policy<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/policies\/\">UWM Human Resources Policies page (scroll to find the University Staff policies)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsin.edu\/uw-policies\/uw-system-administrative-policies\/grievance-procedures\/\">Universities of Wisconsin Procedure for Grievances<\/a> <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/forms\/categories\/#h-employee-forms\">UWM Human Resources Page for Employee Evaluation Forms<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/hr\/forms\/\">UWM Human Resources Forms A to Z webpage<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uwm-l-col uwm-l-col--4 uwm-l-offset--1\">\n<div class=\"uwm-p-card uwm-p-card--gold uwm-u-mb-40\"><div class=\"uwm-p-card--body\"><div class=\"uwm-p-card--content\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-contact\">Contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"uwm-c-list--contact uwm-c-list--cleanlist\">\n<li><i class=\"fa-solid fa-envelope fa-fw\"><\/i><a href=\"mailto:secofunv@uwm.edu\">secofunv@uwm.edu<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<nav aria-label=\"Sidebar\" class=\"uwm-p-navigation-list uwm-p-navigation-list--gold-border \"><div class=\"uwm-p-navigation-list--title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/\">University Staff Standing Committees<\/a><\/div><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-awards-committee\/\">University Staff Awards Committee<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-codification-committee\/\">University Staff Codification Committee<\/a><\/li><li><a class=\"current\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-grievance-committee\/\"><span aria-current=\"page\">University Staff Grievance Committee<\/span><\/a><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/policy\/library\/university-staff-standing-committees-and-senate\/university-staff-grievance-committee\/\">Bylaws<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-grievance-committee\/rosters\/\">Rosters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-layoff-committee\/\">University Staff Layoff Committee<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-nominations-committee\/\">University Staff Nominations Committee<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1097,"featured_media":0,"parent":778,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/centered.php","meta":{"footnotes":"","uwm_wg_additional_authors":[7888]},"class_list":["post-1517","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Secretary of the University<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/secu\/governance\/university-staff\/standing-committees\/university-staff-grievance-committee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta 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