Administrator can accept or deny the appeal and such decision shall be 
final.

An employee who receives two (2) consecutive overall ratings of “Needs 
Improvement” on an annual performance evaluation shall be demoted by 
one pay step. For every subsequent overall rating of “Needs 
Improvement,” the employee shall be demoted an additional pay step. The 
Union may appeal the “Needs Improvement” overall rating to the 
Departmental Deputy Court Administrator only within five (5) business 
days of the issuance of the rating. An employee shall be returned to 
his/her immediate prior pay step should they receive an overall rating of 
“Meets Expectation” or a higher rating.

ARTICLE IV - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Grievances arising in the implementation of this Agreement shall be subject to 
the First Judicial District’s Complaint Resolution Policy. The grievant or the 
Union on behalf of the grievant, shall file the grievance within ten (10) 
working days of receipt of the disciplinary notice with the appropriate 
Divisional Court Administrator and the Deputy Court Administrator of 
Human Resources.

Any Bargaining Unit member who participates in the First Judicial District 
Complaint Resolution process may be accompanied by an elected union 
representative in all hearings and appeals.

During the appeal process, the Union may employ, at its own cost, the 
services of a stenographer. Should either elect to use a stenographer, a 
copy of the transcript will be provided to the other party, at cost to the 
requesting party.

ARTICLE V - UNION RIGHTS

The Judiciary recognizes the officers of District Council 47, Local 810, and 
fourteen stewards: two Domestic Relations branch, five Juvenile Probation, five 
Adult Probation, one at the Youth Study Center, and one other steward duly 
designated by the Union. It is agreed and understood that stewards, within the 
scope of their authority have the right to speak for the Union. The Judiciary will 
recognize one alternate for each of the above designated stewards. Alternates 
may act only if the steward is unavailable.

The Court Administrator, Deputy Court Administrators, and Department Heads, 
within the scope of their authority, are authorized to speak for the Judiciary and 
conduct business with the Union under this Understanding.