The union needs to do research on this process and make a determination if a union worker who wants to improve themselves within in their own job setting (which in the long-run saves the University money) should be treated in such a manner that the JEQ should take this length of time. Too many jokes around the U community of how long the JEQ process takes and how ridiculous it is but no one has ever challenged it.
FYI: I went through the process and after all is said and done my total time to have documents signed and to have a legal document in hand, it took 11 months and two weeks.
Most of the co-workers I spoke with talk about a 9 month period. No matter what the fact is the JEQ process is substandard and Central treats it as such. Could you image if Central treated the academia processes the same as the JEQ?
JEQs
We agree wholeheartedly which is why we have negotiated for JEQ Timelines and an appeal process -- The supervisor, department head and dean have 30 calendar days to complete and forward a job evaluation questionnaire to Human Resources. Human resources then has 45 calendar days to render a decision in writing to the employee, department and the Union. If the employee disagrees s/he may request in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days the scoring of his/her responses. There is also an appeals process. You can find out more about the process in the Contract, Article 9, Classification and Reclassification, Section 2, 3 and 4. pgs 21-22. This still seems like too long but it is a beginning.
It's still a lot of work but there are successful JEQs to most job classifications that members can look at for ideas in stating their case. There also is a booklet available with helpful hints in filling out the JEQ. Both are available from a local steward.