CAPE’s commitment is to respond to member inquiries within 24 hours or less, and in a manner that will best help them meet their career goals. Depending on the nature of your call, you will be assisted by the appropriate professional staff that includes CAPE Legal Counsel, Business Agents and Administrative Staff.
However, this can only happen when a member calls CAPE as soon as possible on any situation in which the member is considering filing a complaint, a grievance, is being interviewed, or disciplined, or is wanting to appeal an exam result. Timelines for filing in such cases are outlined in the CAPE Representation Handbook and/or MOU online and as a hard copy.
For example, to be considered timely, a grievance, such as on a Performance Evaluation, must be filed within ten (10) business days from the occurrence of the matter on which a complaint is based, or of your knowledge of such an occurrence.
The easiest case for management to make in denying a grievance is “lack of timeliness”. They need only point to a calendar and count to 5, 10, 15 or 30 calendar or business days, depending on the issue. They just point to your own MOU. As simple as that sounds, all too often time frames are allowed to expire.
Due to the short time frames and extensive preparation needed for Civil Service representation in cases of probationary reductions, claims of discrimination, and challenges to promotional exams, you must contact a CAPE Business Agent within two (2) business days from the date of the County’s notice document. Do not wait until you have all your information together before calling CAPE for representation on these matters.
Again, CALL CAPE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, at the first sign of trouble, real or imagined. We can help you sort it out, and address your concerns, but only if you call us as soon as possible.
Visit http://www.capeunion.org/representation-services for everything you need to know about accessing our professional job representation services.