Overview
Grievance Mediation is available to both public and private sectors.
Before setting an mediation hearing, reach out to your local Regional Office. A mediator will be assigned to your case and contact both sides to schedule a grievance hearing within two weeks. The timing and place of the hearing will depend on when everyone is available.
Note: all labor agreements use the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation for grievance mediation.
How it works
The process for Grievance Mediation is as follows:
Facts Presentation: During the hearing, the mediator will ask questions to understand what happened, letting people explain their side.
Flexibility: The mediator allows both sides to share their story freely, without strict rules like in a court trial.
Settlement Attempt: After hearing both sides, the mediator tries to help them agree on a solution.
Next Steps: If they can't agree, they can still go to arbitration without any negative effects.
Advantages of Grievance Mediation
- Cooperation: When an agreement is made, both sides usually agree on the terms by themselves, instead of the decision being forced on them. This way, both sides are happy.
- Speed: Grievance mediation happens quickly and effectively.
- Cost: The Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation's services are free for both sides.
- Fair Process: The person with the complaint gets to tell their side and help find a solution everyone agrees on.
- No Precedent: What happens in mediation doesn't set rules for future complaints unless agreed upon.
- Flexibility: The mediator can find solutions that work better for both sides.
- Efficiency: Fewer weak cases go to arbitration, making the process faster.