The rules and procedures for dealing with grievances of educator personnel are set out in Chapter H of the Personnel Administrative Measures of the Employment of Educators Act, 1998.

1. Before differences become formalised grievances, a sincere attempt should be made to resolve any grievance by means of a personal interview between the grievant and the principal of the school.

2. During this process, no records will be kept of proceedings, which will be without prejudice to either party.

3. Failing this, the educator has the right to lodge a formal grievance with the school principal in writing and within 90 calendar days of the date on which the act or omission leading to the grievance occurred.

4. The school principal shall send his or her comments on the grievance, together with all relevant information, to the relevant district director within 5 working days after receiving the formal grievance in writing.

5. The district director, or his or her delegate, shall, within 5 working days from the date of receipt of the grievance, attempt to resolve the grievance and then communicate his or her decision in writing to all parties.

If the aggrieved employee is an office-based educator, the employee’s immediate supervisor must deal with the grievance in the same manner as a school principal.

The rules and procedures for dealing with grievances of public service personnel are set out in the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council Agreement No.14 of 2002 and were published in Government Gazette No. 25209 on 25 July 2003. These documents must be read in conjunction with WCED Circular 230 of 2003.

1. An aggrieved employee has 90 calendar days from the date on which the act or omission leading to the grievance occurred in which to lodge a grievance. This must be done in writing by filling in Part A and the last section of Part B of the prescribed form.

2. The relevant director or head of institution is the designated employee and must complete the first section of Part C of the prescribed form. He or she must make every possible attempt to resolve the grievance as soon as possible.

3. If the grievant is not satisfied with the outcome, the designated employee must then submit a recommendation to the Executive Authority (Provincial Minister of Education) for a final ruling.

4. It is of utmost importance to note that a grievance must be resolved within 30 days of submission by the grievant. The said period includes any referral to the Executive Authority in terms of paragraph 4.3(iii) above.