Mediation/Arbitration All disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be resolved as set forth in this paragraph 15. If any party hereto desires to make any claim arising out of this Agreement ("Claimant"), then such party shall first deliver to the other party ("Respondent") written notice ("Claim Notice") of Claimant's intent to make such claim explaining Claimant's reasons for such claim in sufficient detail for Respondent to respond. Respondent shall have ten (10) business days from the date the Claim Notice was given to Respondent to object in writing to the claim ("Notice of Objection"), or otherwise cure any breach hereof alleged in the Claim Notice. Any Notice of Objection shall specify with particularity the reasons for such objection. Following receipt of the Notice of Objection, if any, Claimant and Respondent shall immediately seek to resolve by good faith negotiations the dispute alleged in the Claim Notice, and may at the request of either party, utilize the services of an independent mediator. If Claimant and Respondent are unable to resolve the dispute in writing within ten (10) business days from the date negotiations began, then without the necessity of further agreement of Claimant or Respondent, the dispute set forth in the Claim Notice shall be submitted to binding arbitration (except for claims arising out of paragraphs 3 or 7 hereof),
Step 3 - Arbitration If the grievance is not settled on the basis of the foregoing procedures, and if the grievant and the Union have complied with the specific time limitations specified in Steps 1 and 2 herein, the Union may submit the issue in writing to arbitration within fourteen (14) calendar days following the receipt of the written reply from the Director of Employee Relations and Employment or designee. After notification that the dispute is submitted for arbitration, the Employer and the Union shall attempt to agree on an arbitrator. If the Employer and the Union fail to agree on an arbitrator, the Union shall promptly request a list of seven (7) arbitrators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The parties shall thereupon alternate in striking a name from the panel until one (1) name remains. The person whose name remains shall be the arbitrator.
Step 4 - Arbitration If the grievance is not settled on the basis of the foregoing procedures, the Association may submit the issue in writing to final and binding arbitration within ten (10) calendar days following receipt of the Chief Operating Officer or Chief Administrative Officer’s or designee’s response. Within ten (10) calendar days of the notification that the dispute is submitted for arbitration, the Association shall request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to supply a list of eleven (11) arbitrators and the parties shall alternatively strike names from such list until the name of one (1) arbitrator remains who shall be the arbitrator. The party to strike the first name shall be determined by coin toss. In consultation with the arbitrator the Parties shall choose a date for the hearing. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding, subject to limits of authority stated herein. The arbitrator shall have no authority or power to add to, delete from, disregard, or alter any of the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be authorized only to interpret the existing provisions of this Agreement as they may apply to the specific facts of the issue in dispute. The arbitrator shall base his or her decision solely on the contractual obligations expressed in this Agreement. If the arbitrator should find that the Employer was not prohibited by this Agreement from taking, or not taking, the action grieved, he or she shall have no authority to change or restrict the Employer’s action. The arbitrator shall not reverse the Employer’s exercise of discretion in any particular instance and substitute his or her own judgment or determination for that of the Employer. If a nurse feels the Employer’s determination is based upon bad faith, is arbitrary and capricious, is based on irrelevant information or favoritism, the nurse shall have recourse to the grievance procedure. Any dispute as to procedure shall be heard and decided by the arbitrator in a separate proceeding prior to any hearing on the merits. Any dismissal of a grievance by the arbitrator, whether on the merits or on procedural grounds, shall bar any further arbitration. Each party shall bear one-half (½) of the fee of the arbitrator and any other expense jointly incurred by mutual agreement incident to the arbitration hearing. All other expenses, including any costs or attorneys’ fees, shall be borne by the party incurring them, and neither party shall be responsible for the expenses of witnesses called by the other party.
Expenses of Arbitration Board Each party shall pay:
Expedited Arbitration (a) The Parties may by mutual agreement refer to expedited arbitration any outstanding grievances considered suitable for this process, and shall set dates and locations for hearings of groups of grievances considered suitable for expedited arbitration.
Location of Arbitration The arbitration shall take place in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and the arbitrator shall issue any award at the place of arbitration. The arbitrator may conduct hearings and meetings at any other place agreeable to the parties or, upon the motion of a party, determined by the arbitrator as necessary to obtain significant testimony or evidence.
Expedited Arbitrations Where a difference arises at an institution relating to the interpretation, application or administration of a local agreement, including where an allegation is made that a term or condition of a local agreement has been violated, either of the local parties may, after exhausting the steps of the grievance procedure under the local agreement, notify the other local party within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the last grievance step reply, of its desire to arbitrate and to submit the difference or allegation to expedited arbitration before a single arbitrator.
