Immediate supervisors, Command Officers and reviewing Officers shall consider promptly all grievances presented to them within the scope of their authority, and take such timely action as may be required. The grievance procedure shall be as follows (all references to "days" shall mean calendar days excluding holidays): Step 1: An employee with the Steward, or the Steward acting on behalf of an employee, who believes that any provision of this contract has been violated, may within ten (10) days of the date of ' such alleged violation, discuss the alleged violation with the employee s Lieutenant. The Lieutenant shall make arrangements for the employee to be off the job for a reasonable period of time, if necessary, in order to discuss the complaint with the Steward. The Lieutenant shall supply an answer to the Steward within ten (10) days. Every effort should be made to settle the dispute at this step. (NOTE: On shifts where there is no Lieutenant assigned, the Sergeant shall answer). Step 2: If the matter is not satisfactorily settled in Step 1, a grievance may be submitted on a written grievance form within ten (10) days by the Chief Steward or Acting Chief Steward to the Commander of the respective Division. The written grievance shall set forth the nature of the grievance, date of the matter complained of, names of the employee or employees involved, and the provisions of this contract allegedly violated. The Commander shall reply in writing within ten (10) days setting forth the facts taken into account in answering the grievance. Step 3: If not settled at Step 2, the grievance may be referred to the Sheriff within ten (10) days. Policy grievances shall also be instituted at this Step unless the subject matter of the grievance involves a non-departmental issue, in which case it will be filed at Step 4. A meeting between the Sheriff and/or his or her designated representative(s), the Grievance Committee of the Union and the grieving party or parties shall be held within ten (10) days after referral to the Sheriff to discuss the grievance. If unresolved at this meeting, the Sheriff shall give a written answer within ten (10) days of the meeting. The Union Grievance Committee shall be composed of three (3) members of the bargaining unit. This shall not preclude a representative of the Union's Legal Council and/or International Union from being a party to the grievance meeting. Step 4: If the grievance is still unsettled after Step 3, it shall be presented in writing by the Local Union President (with copies of previous written responses) within ten (10) days to the Wayne County Labor Relations Division.
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