Grievances generally.

Houston Code of Ordinances § 14-51

in effect

Sec. 14-51. - Grievances generally. At each step in the grievance proceedings, the following shall apply: (1) At all times, the department will give the grievant at least four calendar days notice of any step meeting unless a shorter period is mutually agreed upon. At each step in the process the participants shall appear in person and fully, candidly and openly discuss the grievance in an effort to mutually resolve the disputed issues. (2) The grievant must submit the grievance on the appropriate forms provided by the director with the grievant's original signature. The grievance form may not be signed by a representative, or faxed, e-mailed, or otherwise transmitted by electronic means to the grievance coordinator or the commission. (3) The grievant and department management are required to mutually disclose non-privileged information, names of witnesses/persons with relevant knowledge, and provide documents to be used in the step meetings. Failure by either party to disclose known witnesses/persons with relevant knowledge, documents or information may be grounds for exclusion/inclusion of such evidence, where appropriate. Failure by the department to disclose known witnesses/persons with relevant knowledge, documents or information shall subject the person responsible to discipline. (4) With the approval of a grievance examiner, a grievance may be discontinued at any step in the process for the grievant's unexcused failure to disclose witnesses/persons with relevant knowledge, documents or information or failure to cooperate or respond. Such decisions may be reviewed by the commission. (5) The dates required herein for scheduling meetings/hearings may not be extended except where an investigation for criminal misconduct is pending, where the failure to meet a date is the result of an authorized leave of absence or excused illness of the grievant, or the parties mutually and voluntarily agree in writing to extend the deadlines. Any extension granted must be reasonable and not unduly or unnecessarily delay the grievance process. (6) Upon mutual agreement, grievances by more than one grievant arising out of the same or similar fact situations may be consolidated and heard concurrently at the discretion of the department. (7) Grievances by the same grievant may be consolidated and heard concurrently at the discretion of the grievance examiner at step III. (8) The grievant and the department shall be allowed to have a representative present at any meeting or hearing authorized herein, though each shall be conducted so that the grievant may represent himself if he so chooses. No representative need be a licensed attorney. Any representative must be in compliance with section 14-183(a)(10) of this Code. (9) No electronic or other technological mode of recording may be used at step I or II proceedings by any participant. (10) Grievance forms and related documents shall not be filed in a grievant's personnel file. Every reasonable effort shall be made to keep grievances and the documents related thereto from disclosure to persons without a need to know, except as required by state, federal or local law. (11) Neither step I or II meetings nor step III hearings shall be open to the public. (12) In each step of the grievance process, the grievant shall be allowed a reasonable time off from his regular duties to file his grievance and to attend step I or II meetings or a step III hearing thereon, and such time off shall not be charged against the grievant. Such allowed time does not include time for preparation, meetings with witnesses or representatives, drafting responses or gathering evidence, etc. At its discretion, the department may provide an alternative work schedule or overtime as needed to accommodate the grievant's attendance at step meetings or hearings. (13) Subpoenas may be issued only for step III hearings and will be limited to a maximum of five fact witnesses per grievance. Upon presentation of the subpoena, city employees will be allowed reasonable time for travel and participation at step III hearings and will be compensated (regular or overtime hours, as appropriate) by the department. (14) If a grievant resigns his position with the city or is indefinitely suspended while a grievance is pending at any step proceeding, the grievance shall become moot and all further processing shall be discontinued. (Ord. No. 2015-1300, § 2(Exh. A), 12-16-2015)

Source: City of Houston, Code of Ordinances and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/houston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH14CISE_ARTIIRU_DIV3RU3.OFMEETCO_S14-51GRGEFetched: 10/26/2026