DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION. The Employer shall have the right to discipline, suspend, or discharge any employee for just cause per the Employer's Policies. Following the Management Rights Article, the Employer shall publish an Employee Handbook and Human Resources Policy and Procedures. Probationary employees can be disciplined or discharged per federal, state, and local laws and shall not have recourse to the grievance and arbitration procedure set forth in this Agreement. All disciplinary documents will identify the specific Employer policy(s) supporting the Corrective Action. No “verbal counseling” discussion between an employee and a supervisor shall constitute discipline under this Section. Accordingly, no such verbal counseling shall be considered a matter subject to the grievance and arbitration procedures. In contrast, a “verbal warning” shall be accompanied by a written notification in the employee’s personnel file. The verbal warning shall be considered part of the progressive disciplinary procedure. The Employer recognizes the concept of progressive discipline and will endeavor to utilize a progressive discipline response in cases of inadequate work performance or violation of Employers' workplace rules. However, the nature and severity of an offense will permit imposition of disciplinary action at any level of discipline up to and including discharge. In a conflict, this Agreement will precede the Employer's work rules. A Union Advocate, Representative, or another member may represent an employee in any meeting called by the Employer that could reasonably result in disciplinary action, provided their chosen representative is available. Whenever the Employer takes disciplinary actions against an employee, a copy of such actions will be given to the employee and the Union Advocate per section 11.6 of this Article. The Employers' policy is that employees sign the disciplinary action copy, which shall constitute only an acknowledgment of receipt and not an admission of guilt. Failure to provide such copies shall not be subject to this Agreement's grievance and arbitration procedures. The Union, acting on behalf of any employee whom the Union believes to have been disciplined without just cause, shall have the right to appeal such discipline per the grievance and arbitration procedure.
DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION
