Chargersfan
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Quick question….can you send a grievance directly to the CO without the CoC? I see no reason why anyone would need to read this in the unit aside from the CO.
Quick question….can you send a grievance directly to the CO without the CoC? I see no reason why anyone would need to read this in the unit aside from the CO.
Not generally. A CO has staff and subordinate commanders (and their staff) that do the relevant staff/admin work on any file which is why admin usually flows through a CoC. A CO getting something directly is likely just going to ask their staff and the relevant CoC to do the staff work anyway so trying to go around the CoC is pointless
Without knowing the full details, can't comment.In this particular case, the CO cannot do anything but pass it on to the grievance people to assign an IA. Also, I want to make sure HE gets it, and that there’s no lost in CoC nonsense.
While both are foundationally correct, the Chain of Command is listed in DAOD 2017-1 as to who the Grievance is directed.
Your NOI to Grieve goes to the CoC, however, Section 4.2 states that does not preclude you from speaking direcrly to the CO about the matter. That can be as simple as an email saying what the issue is, so long as you can provide references, and that you intend to grieve it.
This should initiate dialogue with the CO and his Staff as to if they can and then how to fix the issue without it going to formal grievance. If they can, it should be dealt with in house. If not, you'll be assigned an Assisting Member to help navigate the process of submitting a formal grievance.
All this to say for all CAF Leaders: read up on DAOD 2017-1, take the "Assisting Member" course on DLN, and dont fuck your troops about on their administration.
Lodge the grievance through the ICCM. The unit will do the hey I can't be the IA letter and then it is gone. When I was in the staff position to do this I could care less whether it was lodged that way or if I had to put it into the system.In this particular case, the CO cannot do anything but pass it on to the grievance people to assign an IA. Also, I want to make sure HE gets it, and that there’s no lost in CoC nonsense.
Absolutely great post. Having been the staff, the first thing the CO is going to do is say "hey give me some deets, so I can make an informed decision" refreshed of how it is recieved. Especially if it's a grievance, that is going to leave the unit as the CO can't act as IA
Lodge the grievance through the ICCM. The unit will do the hey I can't be the IA letter and then it is gone. When I was in the staff position to do this I could care less whether it was lodged that way or if I had to put it into the system.
Call or walk into the nearest one to you? Conflict Solutions and Services: Contact us for help - Canada.caI called the 1-800 for the ICCM and they were like ‘yeah, grieve this…let me assign it to someone in your area…you shoukd here from someone in a week or so’.
That was 6 weeks ago.
six months! Must have been a simple oneHaving been a unit Adjt for a major unit, I have some experience in staffing grievances.
I highly recommend that you read and understand DAOD 2017-1. This tells you the procedures that must be followed by the unit and you.
Ensure that the grievance is factual and not filled with emotion. The facts can get lost in the emotional verbiage and it makes it difficult for the reviewer to ascertain what is the problem, confirm the applicable regulations and resolve the issue.
Once the grievance is registered, make sure that you have the file number. As per DAOD 2017-1, the timelines are mentioned and you can call them to ask for a SITREP.
Once the grievance is staffed over to the IA, be patient. It may takes months for the department to review, find the appropriate subject matter expert if necessary, study and resolve the case. Before I retired, my replacement came over from the Grievance Office and they were extremely short staffed with experienced Officers. Ten years ago, I submitted a grievance which was staffed over top the IA. It took 6 months before I received an answer. I had to periodically follow up asking for SITREPs.
Disagree with the bit about how the timeline is easily overcome. I just sent 3 rejection letters to my IA this morning because the timeline was exceeded and it is not in the Interests of Justice for us to accept it.Call or walk into the nearest one to you? Conflict Solutions and Services: Contact us for help - Canada.ca
Grievances have fairly strict timelines (although easily overcome) so I wouldn't wait for some random org to reach out to you.
Easily may be strong of a word but the amount that are accepted past the 3 month period for a variety of reasons is still pretty decent. I am a few short years out of the game of managing grievance files but pretty much any file with decent reasoning (and timelines that matched) was accepted. The bosses I worked for and my own personal opinion was that if the delay was reasonable or there was doubt the benefit would always weigh on the side of the member. Stepping up and grieving is tough for most people as we have a traditional suck it up culture, so giving leeway where it makes sense is IMHO fine. I rather that than be on the wrong end of a Globe and Mail test.Disagree with the bit about how the timeline is easily overcome. I just sent 3 rejection letters to my IA this morning because the timeline was exceeded and it is not in the Interests of Justice for us to accept it.
Leblanc v. Attorney General of Canada, [2010] F.C. 785 and Hudon v. Attorney General of Canada, [2009] F.C. 1092 guide IA decisions in this regard.
The delay has to have been unforeseen, unexpected or beyond the grievor's control (QR&O 7.06). and even then, the grievance must still be submitted within a "reasonable period of time after the circumstances occurred" although "reasonable period of time" is not strictly defined thus your mileage may vary between IAs. For example, you were deployed on a short notice TAV after being aggrieved, likely accepted. You went on MATA/PATA after being aggrieved, likely not accepted
Also important to know that submission of a NOI does not extend the 3 month timeline to submit a grievance, however engaging ICCM within the 3 month period does extend it (ref: CDS Directive for CAF Grievance System Enhancement dated 3 March 2021, para 13.e)
Just for a point of reference, as a junior officer I wrote up a grievance. I passed it to my supervisor (a senior officer) who was next in my CoC. When he read it, he came up with a solution that satisfied me and solved the problem. No more grievance.
So sometimes just documenting things gets attention and solves problems. Regardless, if you do have a legitimate grievance, follow the procedures.
In the CAF's culture, this seems like a bold action which might ruffle some feathers for "skipping the chain of command," people might even start spinning out of control and asking why he wants to talk to the CO (he should tell them to mind their own business, in politer terms). They'll act like it is an affront every person's integrity and character that someone might do that. I suggest that is exactly what is wrong with the CAF's culture, and speaks to the insecurity and weakness of it's leadership. If you are all sitting there thinking that what I suggest is awfully brazen or insubordinate, you should probably do some self-reflection.
I will disagree wholeheartedly with this sentiment, but I will say the problem is more than just wanting to be the one to say "no."There are still plenty of people who want to be the ones to say no, when in reality they are terrible trades people and leaders.
It it will go through the conflict resolution centre. Once you’ve elected to submit a grievance you’ll be assigned some one to assist you with it.If I wanted to submit a Grievance, would I compile it by using a regular Military Memo format?