DISCIPLINE/DISCHARGE 25.01 A Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, or in the absence of a Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, another employee in the bargaining unit selected by the employee affected, and in the event the member is a Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, another Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or an official full-time Union Representative, shall be present from the beginning of the meeting when a member of the bargaining unit:
a) is given a reprimand which is to be entered on the employee’s personnel file;
b) is suspended or discharged. In unusual circumstances, where it is necessary for the Employer to advise an employee by mail of discharge, the Union office will be mailed a copy of such notice. Absence of a Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or Assistant Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or another employee shall not invalidate the discipline, except in exceptional circumstances.
25.02 The affected employee, a Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Union, shall be given a copy of any disciplinary notice which is to be entered on an employee's personnel file. The affected employee, the Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, and the Union shall also be given a copy of any discharge notice that is given to an employee. In all cases of discipline or discharge the Employer shall notify the affected employee, and a Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the Union in writing of the reasons for taking such action. The notice of discipline or discharge shall be given to the affected employee and a Shop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ promptly and a copy of the discipline or discharge notice shall be forwarded to the Union office via fax within two (2) business days (excluding Saturday and Sunday and General Holidays) of the event.
25.03 Employees covered by this Agreement shall have access to their own personnel file, upon written request by the employee involved. Employees shall be able to obtain copies of their personnel file when requested, at the employee's expense. The Employer shall keep only one (1) personnel file per employee.
(a) Employee’s written corrective action documentation(s) other than suspension will be taken from an employee’s file after fifteen (15) months should no similar offence have occurred during said period.
(b) Employee’s suspension documentation(s) will be taken from an employee’s file after thirty (30) months should no similar offence have occurred during said period.
(c) All documentation(s) including corrective action and suspension relating to incident(s) and/or complaint(s) of discrimination or harassment nature shall remain in an employee’s file.
DISCIPLINE, SUSPENSION AND DISCHARGE
15.01 The Employer shall not discipline, suspend, or discharge an Employee without just cause.
15.02 The Employer and the Union recognize the principle of progressive discipline.
15.03 When an Employee is to be disciplined (e.g., documented oral warning, written warning, suspension, or discharge), such discipline shall only be imposed at a meeting with the Employment Supervisor specifically convened for this purpose. Employees will be given forty-eight (48) hours’ notice, the reason(s) for the meeting and will be advised that they are entitled to be accompanied at this meeting by a Union representative. Such notice shall be in writing. The Union shall be copied on any disciplinary letter within three (3) Business Days of such a meeting.
15.04 A documented oral warning or a written warning shall normally precede imposition of a suspension or discharge, except in the case of gross neglect of duty position abandonment, or gross misconduct.
15.05 Where an Employee has received a disciplinary letter, the Employee may attach comments to the letter and the comments will be placed in their personnel file.
(a) A disciplinary letter within an Employee’s personnel file shall be deemed null and void and removed from the file after a twenty-four (24) month period from the date of the letter, provided that no further discipline has been recorded within the period noted above.
(b) Where, upon an Employee’s graduation from their program at Queen’s University, a disciplinary letter has been in the Employee’s personnel file for a period of no less than twelve (12) months, such a disciplinary letter shall be removed from the Employee’s personnel file at their request.
(c) Article 15.06 (b) does not apply when the Employee registers immediately from one program at Queen’s University into another program at Queen’s University.
15.07 In cases involving allegations of serious misconduct or a threat to the safety of a person or property, as a precautionary measure, the ▇▇▇▇ (or delegate) of the faculty in which the Employee works may suspend the Employee with pay during an investigation. Within one (1) Business Day from the time of such a suspension, the Employer shall provide the Employee with a letter setting out the allegation or threat with a copy to the Union. The letter will inform the Employee of their right to Union representation in connection with the matter and a meeting will be scheduled between the parties within three (3) Business Days of the above letter being provided. The parties may delay this meeting by written agreement pending the outcome of an investigation. The Employer will complete the investigation and inform the Employee of the results of the investigation, and of any corrective action that has been or will be taken, normally within ninety (90) calendar days of the commencement of the investigation, unless there are extenuating circumstances warranting a longer investigation. During any meetings between the Employee and the Employer during the investigation, the Employee may choose to be accompanied by a Union representative. Where, at the conclusion of the investigation, the allegations that were investigated are unfounded, there shall be no record of the investigation in the Employee’s personnel file. Where the allegations are founded, the Employer may take disciplinary action.
