ALG's Jim Eisenmann Appears on 60 Minutes to Discuss the MSPB
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Alden Law Group, PLLC

Washington, DC Federal Employment + Labor Attorneys

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Federal Employees

Home / Practice Areas / Federal Employees / Union Grievances in Federal Sector

Union Grievances in Federal Sector

You might be in a bargaining unit, or covered by a union contract, but what does that really mean? What can your union do for you? Maybe a lot.

If you are facing discipline or an investigation, your union can be there with you, every step of the way. One of your most valuable union rights might be the right to file a grievance under the union contract. You may utilize the negotiated grievance procedure on your own or with the help of a union official. If the grievance is not satisfactorily resolved, the union can opt to arbitrate your dispute with your agency. During the arbitration process, both parties argue their respective positions regarding the dispute to a neutral third party, the arbitrator. Eventually, the arbitrator renders a binding decision. It is important to remember that the union may invoke arbitration regarding your dispute with your agency employer, but it is not required to. You should keep this in mind when filing your initial grievance as filing the grievance will typically prevent you from utilizing another procedure to address your dispute with your agency employer.

For example, an agency may suspend an employee for 15 days, but the employee thinks the suspension is fundamentally wrong and, in addition, is rooted in reprisal for her protected whistleblowing activity. This employee probably has three ways to challenge the suspension: a) through the union agreement; b) through an appeal directly with the MSPB; or c) by filing a whistleblowing reprisal complaint with the OSC. Even though the employee has three options, she can choose only one.

The law is confusing and understanding the pro’s and con’s of each option can be overwhelming. If you find yourself wondering which path to take, talk with our experienced attorneys. We have been representing federal employees for decades and understand the confusing and complex procedures that apply exclusively to federal employees. Contact us for an initial consultation.

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1850 M Street, NW
Suite 901
Washington. DC 20036

(855) 463-0300
(202) 463-0300
(855) 463-0301 (fax)
(202) 463-0301 (fax)

Our Team

  • Kristin D. Alden
  • Michelle F. Bercovici
  • Wynter P. Allen
  • James Eisenmann
  • Ross E. Fishbein
  • Dominick Schumacher
  • Philip A. Mueller

Practice Areas

  • Employment Contracts
    • Executive Employment Agreements
    • Non-Compete Agreements
    • Non-Solicitation Agreements
    • Separation Agreements
  • Employees’ Workplace Obligations
    • Trade Secrets, Duty of Loyalty
  • Discrimination & Harassment
    • Sex
    • LGBTQ + Gender Identity
    • Family Responsibility
    • National Origin
    • Religion
    • Disability and Requests for Accommodations
    • HIV Status
    • Age Discrimination
    • Hostile work environment & Harassment
    • Pay Discrimination, Equal Pay Act
    • Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
    • Retaliation
  • Federal Employees
    • Congressional Accountability Act
    • Discrimination in Federal Sector
    • Discipline and Other Adverse Actions in Federal Sector
    • Foreign Service Officers
    • Government Ethics
    • Agency Internal Grievance Systems
    • Intelligence Community
    • Federal Sector Labor Unions
    • Law Enforcement in Federal Sector
    • Inspector General and OPR Investigations
    • Union Grievances in Federal Sector
    • VERA/VSIP
    • Whistleblowing in Federal Sector
  • Security Clearances
  • D.C. Employees
    • Office of Employee Appeals
    • D.C. Employees Discrimination Complaints
    • Union Grievance Processes
    • D.C. Government Whistleblowing Rights
  • Leaves of Absences
    • Family Medical Leave Act
    • Uniformed Service Members
    • District of Columbia Leave Laws
  • Privacy
    • Medical Inquires
    • FOIA
    • Privacy Act
    • Medical Records
  • Virginia Employees
    • Virginia State Grievance Process
    • Virginia County Grievance Process
    • Virginia State Employee Whistleblowing Rights
  • Wage & Hour
    • Federal Fair Labor Standards Act
    • Wage and Hour in D.C., Maryland and Virginia
  • Whistleblowing
    • Federal Employees
    • Sarbanes-Oxley & SEC Whistleblowing
    • Federal Government Contractors
    • Equal Employment Opportunity Retaliation
    • The Occupational Safety and Health Whistleblowers Laws
    • D.C. Government Whistleblowing Rights
    • Virginia State Employee Whistleblowing Rights
  • Wrongful Discharge
  • Human Resources & Advice for Employers
    • Employee Handbooks
    • Hiring & Firing
    • Management Investigations
    • Workplace Training

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