KKFI Grievance Procedure

KKFI Grievance Procedure
Approved by the KKFI Active Members August 8, 2004
Adopted by the KKFI Board August 15, 2004


KKFI Grievance Procedure (from the bylaws Article IV Section 12)

The Grievance Committee shall investigate and conduct a meeting within 15 days to
hear a presentation of any grievance from both parties and from any witnesses either
side should choose to present. Any member of the Grievance Committee shall recuse
himself or herself from any grievance or complaint to which they are a party.
A grievance is defined as any complaint brought by any Active Member or Members,
Volunteer or Volunteers, or Programmer or Programmers because of actions by any
individual or group which violate any law, rule, regulation, bylaw, station policy, or for
unfair or discriminatory treatment. There shall be no statute of limitations for grievances
made in the absence of due process.

After hearing the presentation of the grievance from the parties involved, the Grievance
Committee shall discuss and render a decision and a resolution to the grievance by
majority vote. The appropriate party will carry out the decision and resolution of the
Grievance Committee.

An appeal to the Board may be made only on the grounds that the Grievance Committee did not comply with the proper procedure or that its decision is in violation of any law, rule, regulation, bylaw, or station policy. If the Board decides by majority vote that the appeal is valid, it shall return the grievance to the Grievance Committee for
reconsideration. The Grievance Committee shall alter its decision and/or resolution of
the grievance to comply with the objections of the Board.

The grievance is settled at any step when an agreement is reached that is satisfactory to all parties. The settlement shall be put in writing and signed by all parties, the Station
Manager and the presiding officer of the Board of Directors.

Grievance Policy

If the parties cannot resolve the problem, then the grievant may file a grievance within 30 days from when the problem occurred or when he or she became aware of it. To file a grievance, the grievant needs to fill out a grievance form and get it to the chairperson of the Grievance Committee.
The Grievance Committee will notify all parties and schedule a hearing on the grievance. Each party will be expected to provide the facts of the case and any documentation and witnesses in support who will appear at the hearing or if a witness cannot attend, then a letter from him or her stating what he would have testified to.
In addition, the grievant should present what he/she wants the grievance committee to do to resolve the problem,

Privacy Policy: Because grievances are personnel matters, written materials and communications will be held in confidence unless the grievant wishes to divulge these matters. Grievance Committee hearings will be open only to the committee members and the parties involved.

The Hearing The hearing will be open to both/all parties unless the committee decides it is more appropriate to have them one at a time, or if one of the parties so requests. The parties will present their cases one at a time for no more than 15 minutes, followed by question and answer from the committee.

Mediation The Grievance Committee will ask the parties if they would be willing to attempt to negotiate a settlement of the grievance with the assistance of a mediator from the Grievance Committee. If they agree, then a decision will be suspended pending such mediation. If that succeeds the grievance will be considered settled and the parties will sign an agreement as specified in the bylaws.

If mediation does not succeed or if the parties reject mediation then the Grievance Committee will deliberate without the parties present and render a decision within fifteen days. If the Grievance Committee thinks it needs more information, it may delay a decision while it investigates and shall then meet again to make its decision as soon as possible.

Quorum and decision-making To conduct business including a hearing, the Grievance Committee must have a quorum of at least a majority of the members present. Decisions on grievances will be made by consensus if possible. If not by a majority of those present at the grievance hearing.

KKFI Grievance Form

(You can download a Grievance Form in Microsoft Word format here or print the text below:)

“A grievance is defined as any complaint brought by any Active Member or Members,
Volunteer or Volunteers, or Programmer or Programmers because of actions by any
individual or group which violate any law, rule, regulation, bylaw, station policy, or for
unfair or discriminatory treatment. There shall be no statute of limitations for grievances
made in the absence of due process.” (KKFI Bylaws Article IV Section 12)

To file a grievance you must first discuss the problem the person(s) you believe is/are responsible for it and attempt to resolve it. You may request that a member of the Grievance Committee accompany you to do this.

If you cannot resolve the problem, then within 30 days of your becoming aware of the grievance, you must file this form by turning it into the grievance committee box at the station. A hearing will be scheduled within 15 days at which you can present your grievance and any supporting documents or witnesses.

1.         Name ________________________________ Phone(s) _________________

Email ____________________________                      _________________________

2.         Who is responsible for the grievance? (against whom are you filing?) _________

_____________________________________________________________________

3.         Statement of the grievance (what happened – give the basic facts) ___________

_____________________________________________________________________

4.         What law, rule, regulation, bylaw, or station policy has been violated, or is this for unfair or discriminatory treatment?

5.         Are there any witnesses you will present? If so who? ______________________

6.         Are there any documents that you need and/or will present? If so what? _______

7.         What do you want the Grievance Committee to do to resolve this problem?_____

______________________________________________________________________

8.         Are you willing to:  (check either or both boxes)

1. participate in a mediated negotiation to attempt to resolve the problem and/or

1. only have a hearing after which the grievance committee will determine the resolution

Privacy Policy: Because grievances are personnel matters, written materials and communications will be held in confidence by the Grievance Committee and the parties unless any of the parties wish to divulge these matters.  Grievance Committee meetings will be open only to the committee members and the parties involved.