A grievance is a formal complaint that your employer has violated your union contract. The contract, also called a collective bargaining agreement, is a legally binding agreement between your union and your employer. When management breaks it, the grievance process is how you hold them to it.

That's the key point: a grievance is about the contract, not just about something that feels unfair. Many contracts also allow grievances over violations of the law, past practices, or employer policies. Your steward or labor representative can tell you what your contract covers.

This matters because the grievance process is one of the biggest differences between union and non-union jobs. Without a contract, your boss's decision is usually final. With one, management has to follow the rules you bargained for, and there's a process to enforce them.

If you feel that you might have identified a potential grievance, contact a steward or organizer/labor representative for next steps.