Guidelines Concerning the Appointment & Deportment of MUFA Observers at Librarian General Grievance Hearings

DISCLAIMER:  If there is a discrepancy between this electronic policy and the written copy held by the Policy owner, the written copy prevails.

Assistance with the completion of forms and the grievance process is available from the Secretary of the Senate

  1. One Observer is permitted to attend the hearing with consent of the Grievor and Respondent.
  2. The Observer attends the hearing on behalf of the Faculty Association. The function of the Observer is to allow the Faculty Association to monitor the procedures of general grievance hearings for librarians.
  3. The Observer submits a report [see p. G12 below] on the adequacy of the procedures with a view to making recommendations to improve the grievance policy and procedures. The substance of the grievance, and judgement of the Hearing Committee are not subject to the Observer’s comments.
  4. The Observer does not attend on behalf of the librarian. That function is filled by counsel or by an agent chosen by the librarian, if desired. The Observer nominated by the MUFA should be an active or retired member of the Association and should be at “arm’s length” from the case.
  5. The Observer must be familiar with the General Grievance Policy for Librarians and the Guidelines and Procedures for Librarian General Grievance Hearings as well as the role and deportment of an Observer to grievance hearings.
  6. Seating arrangements at the hearing are at the discretion of the Chair. The Observer may not speak without an invitation from the Chair.
  7. The Observer may remain for procedural deliberations at the discretion of the Hearing Committee.
  8. The Observer shall be provided with all the documentation available to the Grievor and Respondent, subject to the Grievor’s and Respondent’s consent. All documentation shall be considered confidential and shall be surrendered to the Chair at the clos e of the hearing.
  9. After the hearing is over, the Observer should ask the parties separately if they were satisfied with the procedures followed, and whether they wish to comment on them.
  10. The Observer shall write a report of the proceedings for the President of MUFA with a copy for the Provost [see below]. The Observer shall limit comment to procedural matters and take care to exclude any information of a confidential nature, unless it is absolutely necessary to describe a procedural point. The Observer’s report should include a statement of what proportion of hearing the Observer attended and a description of any comments on or expressions of dissatisfaction with the procedures by either party. The report is not confidential except that any confidential information or quote should be confined to a confidential appendix.

MUFA Observer Report on a Formal Hearing
General Grievance Policy for Librarians

NOTE: The Observer shall limit comment to procedural matters and take care to exclude any information of a confidential nature, unless it is absolutely necessary to describe a procedural point. Any quotations of confidential information should be confined to a confidential appendix.

1.  Names of Parties to the Hearing:

  • Grievor(s):
  • Respondent(s):

2.  Names of Hearing Committee Members:

  • Chair:
  • Members:
    3.  Date(s) when the hearing was conducted. Also indicate which, if any, of these dates you were unable to attend the hearing.

4.  Please list any specific recommendation(s) with an explanation that you may have to make the procedures at a hearing more efficient and/or fair.

5.  Please indicate the extent to which the parties reported satisfaction with the procedures followed at the hearing, including any comments made by the parties.

Observer’s Signature: ___________________________________

Observer’s Name: ______________________________________

Date: _________________________________________________

Approved by the Board of Governors
March 27, 2002