um, so the Union lied in its letter to members, sayin git was gatting  

Union didn't catch it first, MEMBERS did.   Certainly the President didn't catch it first, since he doesn't even work for the company to get a "tainted" paycheck to have figured it out himself.

And, the Grievance Procedure REQUIRES the individual FIRST notify the company there is a problem, and only gets involved if the company doesn't fix the problem to the satisfaction of the grievant.   Then, and only then, does the UNION get involved.

So, the President must be hyper-exxagerating the story for his ego!