Disciplinary Procedures and Grievances
Understand your rights during disciplinary procedures and workplace grievances, and discover how CAIWU supports workers challenging unfair treatment.
When Problems at Work Become Formal Disputes
Being called into a disciplinary meeting can be intimidating, especially when you believe you have done nothing wrong or fear losing your job.
Equally, raising a complaint about unfair treatment can feel difficult when the person responsible is your supervisor or manager.
For cleaners and other outsourced workers, these situations can become particularly challenging when language barriers, workplace hierarchies or concerns about job security make it harder to speak up.
Understanding the difference between disciplinary procedures and grievances is an important first step towards protecting your rights.
Disciplinary Procedures: Your Right to Fair Treatment
Employers may initiate disciplinary procedures when they believe a worker has committed misconduct or failed to meet expected standards.
However, disciplinary decisions should not be arbitrary.
Employers are generally expected to investigate concerns, explain the allegations, give employees a reasonable opportunity to respond and follow fair procedures.
Where the statutory right applies, workers can be accompanied by a trade union representative or eligible work colleague at a formal disciplinary hearing.
An accusation does not automatically justify dismissal, and employees may have grounds to challenge disciplinary decisions that are procedurally unfair or otherwise unlawful.
Grievances: Raising Concerns About Your Employer
A grievance is a complaint raised by a worker about a problem at work.
This might involve bullying, unpaid wages, unsafe working conditions, discrimination or unreasonable treatment by management.
Employers should take formal grievances seriously, consider the concerns raised and follow appropriate procedures.
Eligible workers also have the statutory right to be accompanied at qualifying grievance hearings.
You Shouldn't Have to Face These Situations Alone
At CAIWU, we support members facing disciplinary proceedings and workplace grievances, helping them understand their options and challenge unfair treatment.
Where problems affect several workers, we can also help members organise collectively to address wider workplace concerns.
Fair procedures matter, and every worker deserves to be heard.
Join CAIWU and become part of a union committed to defending workers' rights, dignity and fair treatment.