Xxxxxx of the Arbitrator It shall be the function of the arbitrator, and he/she shall be empowered, except as his/her powers are limited below, after due investigation, to make a decision in cases of alleged violation of the specific articles and sections of this Agreement. 1. The arbitrator shall have no power to add to, subtract from, disregard, alter, or modify any of the terms of this Agreement. 2. The arbitrator shall have no power to rule on any of the following: a. Actions taken by the Employer with respect to probationary employees including, but not limited to, discipline and discharge. b. Any claim or complaint for which there is another remedial procedure or forum established by law or by regulation having the force of law. c. Any matter involving the content of an employee evaluation. 3. He/she shall have no power to change any practice, policy, or rule of the Employer nor to substitute his/her judgment for that of the Employer as to the reasonableness of any such practice, policy, rule, or any action taken by the Employer. His/her power shall be limited to deciding whether the Employer has violated the express articles or sections of this Agreement; and he/she shall not imply obligations and conditions binding upon the Employer from this Agreement, it being understood that any matter not specifically set forth herein remains within the reserved rights of the Employer. 4. He/she shall have no power to decide any question which, under this Agreement, is within the responsibility of management to decide. In rendering a decision, an arbitrator shall give due regard to the responsibility of management and shall so construe the Agreement that there will be no interference with such responsibilities, except as they may be specifically conditioned by this Agreement. 5. If either party disputes the arbitrability of any grievance under the terms of this Agreement, the arbitrator shall first determine the arbitrability of said dispute. By stipulation of the parties, the Arbitrator shall have the authority to concurrently hear both the jurisdictional issues and the merits of the dispute in the same proceeding. Should the Arbitrator determine that he/she is without jurisdiction to rule, the matter shall be dismissed without decision on the merits. Submission of jurisdictional issues to the Arbitrator shall not be regarded as a waiver by either party of its right to institute civil litigation contesting either the authority of the Arbitrator or any award allegedly rendered in excess of such authority. 6. There shall be no appeal from the arbitrator’s decision if within the scope of his/her authority as set forth above. It shall be final and binding on the Association, its members, the employee or employees involved and the Employer. Any litigation to vacate or enforce the Arbitrator’s decision must be initiated within six (6) months of the issuance of the Opinion and Award. 7. The fees and expenses of the arbitrator shall be shared equally by the Association and the Employer.
Agreement Made in California; Venue The formation, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of California. Venue for all litigation relative to the formation, interpretation and performance of this Agreement shall be in San Francisco.
Step 4 - Arbitration After receipt of a notice to arbitrate from the Lodge President, designees of the City Manager and the Lodge President shall attempt to agree on an arbitrator. If this attempt is not successful or is waived, the arbitrator shall be selected by the parties making a joint request to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) for a panel list of nine (9) arbitrators with business addresses in Ohio. The parties shall then choose an arbitrator by alternately striking names from the list until such time as one (1) name remains as the arbitrator chosen by the parties. Prior to beginning the striking procedure, either the Employer or the Lodge may reject the list and submit a request for another list from the arbitration tribunal. Each party may only reject the list once. In issuing an award, the arbitrator shall be limited to the enforcement of the specific provisions of the Agreement. The arbitrator may not alter, amend, modify, add to or subtract from the provisions of the Agreement. The question of arbitrability of a grievance may be raised by the Employer or the Lodge before the arbitration hearing on the grounds that the matter is nonarbitrable or beyond the arbitrator's jurisdiction. The first question to be placed before an arbitrator will be whether or not the alleged grievance is within the purview of arbitrability. Thereafter, the alleged grievance will be heard on its own merits before the same arbitrator. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding, subject to appeal under applicable state law. The arbitrator shall be without authority to recommend any right to relief on any alleged grievance occurring at any other time than the agreement period in which the right originated. The arbitrator shall not establish any new or different wage rates not negotiated as part of the Agreement. In case of discharge, suspension or reduction, the arbitrator shall have the authority to award modification of said discipline. Both the Lodge and the Employer shall share equally in the cost of the arbitration proceedings. Any member whose testimony is relevant to the arbitration, shall be released with pay to attend the hearing, provided that the hearing is held during the member's regular work hours. The expenses of any non-member witnesses shall be borne by the party requesting the non-member's attendance at the Arbitration Hearing. The arbitrator shall render in writing his or her findings and the award as quickly as possible within thirty (30) calendar days after the hearing is closed and post-hearing briefs are submitted. The arbitrator shall forward such findings and award to the City Manager, or designee, and to the Lodge President, or designee.
Claims Subject to Elective Arbitration 13.6.2.1 Claims will be subject to elective arbitration pursuant to Section 13.7 below, if, and only if, the claim is not settled through informal Dispute Resolution and both Parties agree to arbitration. If both Parties do not agree to arbitration, then either Party may proceed with any remedy available to it pursuant to law, equity or agency mechanism.