Grievance defined

Grievance:

A grievance is a legal mechanism by which the union and the employer resolve disputes between them about issues in the workplace. For example, a grievance may involve a complaint by an employee, the union or the employer alleging that the employer, or a member of management, or the union has violated a legally binding term of a collective bargaining agreement.

The collective bargaining agreement may contain provisions for what can or cannot be grieved. For example, it may contain a provision that the union cannot grieve a discharge of a probationary employee ( unless that discharge was discriminatory). The procedure for advancing and resolving or arbitrating grievances is normally contained in the collective bargaining agreement. A gripe on the other hand is an issue that may be of importance to the member but for which there isn't an obvious violation of the collective bargaining agreement.