§ 1-169. Grievance procedure.

(a)

Employees are not only permitted, but are encouraged to air any grievances that they may have with regard to their treatment or conditions on the job. However, all grievances must be submitted no later than thirty (30) days following the incident which gives rise to the cause of the grievance. All employees must follow the steps as set forth below. Punitive action shall not be taken against any employee for submitting a grievance in good faith.

(b)

A grievance committee shall be established with one employee being appointed by the department head of each of the following departments:

(1)

Secretary-treasurer's office;

(2)

Public works department;

(3)

Employment and training office;

(4)

Cheniere Lake or building maintenance—alternating years;

(5)

Correctional coordinator or food stamp office—alternating years;

(6)

Green Oaks Detention Home.

As to each grievance, a committee of five (5) will hear the grievance with the person appointed from the department from which the grievance arose being received as to that grievance. The personnel officer and the attorney for the Ouachita Parish Police Jury shall be given notice of and shall attend all meetings of the grievance committee.

(c)

The employee must submit a written grievance to the grievance committee with copies to the department head and personnel office. Within ten (10) days after receipt of the written grievance from the employee, the grievance committee shall schedule a hearing to be held at which time the employee shall

have the right to be represented by an attorney, to present oral testimony, to have witnesses present, and to present any and all other evidence which may be applicable to the grievance submitted. A brief summary of all evidence to be presented and a list of all witnesses shall be presented to the grievance committee at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. After the hearing, the grievance committee shall formulate a decision and present written reasons for the decision. Reasons shall be made available to the employee and to the department head.

(d)

If the employee and the department head are not satisfied after the receipt of the decision of the grievance committee and the reasons thereof, a written request shall be submitted to the personnel office of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury within three (3) working days after receipt of the decision of the grievance committee. A personnel committee meeting of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury shall be scheduled within thirty (30) days after request. The procedure to be followed as to the grievance committee shall be applicable as to the meeting of the Ouachita Parish Police Jury Personnel Committee. After the hearing, the personnel committee shall submit its findings in writing to the employee and to the department head.

(e)

If the decision of the personnel committee is not acceptable to the employee or to the department head, the matter may be addressed to the Ouachita Parish Police Jury at any regular meeting thirty (30) days after the rendering of the decision of the personnel committee.

(f)

Any employee whose position is funded through the Job Training Partnership Act may request a review of their grievance by the Louisiana Department of Labor in the event of an unfavorable decision. The JTPA-funded staff must exhaust the employing agency's established grievance procedure before appealing to the Louisiana Department of Labor for review.

(Ord. of 12-20-76, § 8.3; Ord. of 2-13-78; Ord. of 10-16-78; Ord. of 11-20-78; Ord. of 6-18-79; Ord. of 11-21-83; Ord. No. 8220, 5-20-91; Ord. No. 8250, 3-16-92; Ord. No. 8313, 4-19-93; Ord. No. 8410, 10-16-95)