Expedited Arbitration (a) The parties may meet, to review outstanding grievances filed at arbitration to determine those grievances suitable for this process, and will set dates and locations for hearings of groups of grievances considered suitable for expedited arbitration.
(b) All grievances will be considered suitable for and resolved by expedited arbitration except grievances in the nature of:
(1) dismissals;
(2) rejection on probation;
(3) suspensions in excess of 20 workdays;
(4) policy grievances;
(5) grievances requiring substantial interpretation of a provision of the collective agreement;
(6) grievances requiring presentation of extrinsic evidence;
(7) grievances where a party intends to raise a preliminary objection;
Mediation/Arbitration (a) All disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to this Agreement (collectively, “Disputes”) shall be submitted to non-binding mediation by either party to an impartial mediator, as agreed to by the parties, and appointed through JAMS in San Francisco, California, for a good faith effort at resolution. The mediator shall review the Dispute within thirty (30) days of submission or at such other time provided the parties so agree. Any mediation fee shall be paid equally among the parties. Any Dispute which is not resolved through such mandatory mediation shall be settled by final and binding arbitration before a single neutral arbitrator of JAMS in accordance with the then current Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association in San Francisco, California. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court in California. In the event that any Dispute between Indemnitee and the Corporation should result in arbitration, the prevailing party in the Dispute shall be entitled to recover from the other party all reasonable fees, costs and expenses of enforcing any right of the prevailing party, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees, experts’ fees, and expenses. Each party agrees that the Dispute as mediated and/or arbitrated and the final resolution of such Dispute shall be considered to be confidential information, and shall be kept confidential by each party.
(b) Indemnitee specifically acknowledges and understands that by agreeing to this provision, Indemnitee is waiving all rights to have his or her claims brought, investigated, and/or adjudicated by an administrative agency, or heard before a judge or jury. Indemnitee also understands that Indemnitee’s rights to discovery may be lesser or narrower in arbitration, that there may be fees and costs associated with mediation and/or arbitration that Indemnitee may not otherwise have, and that Indemnitee is waiving substantial time that Indemnitee might otherwise have to make a claim, prepare his or her case, or investigate his or her claims. The claims include claims of any kind relating to Indemnitee’s relationship with the Corporation, including claims relating to compensation, discrimination, any benefits, status as an officer, director or Agent of the Corporation, conflict of interest, or any other claim or dispute relating to or arising out of Indemnitee’s relationship with the Corporation. The underlying Disputes shall be fully and finally resolved through arbitration, including any right to permanent injunctive relief.
Mediation and Arbitration 27.1 The parties will use their best efforts to negotiate in good faith and settle any dispute that may arise out of or relate to this agreement or any breach thereof. If such dispute cannot be settled amicably, through ordinary negotiations by the parties, the dispute shall be referred to the senior representative nominated by the Managing Director or Managing Partner of each party, who will meet in good faith in order to resolve the dispute. If the dispute is not resolved as a result of such meeting, either party may, within 7 (seven) days of its conclusion, propose to the other in writing that structured negotiations be entered into with the assistance of a mediator.
27.2 If the parties are unable to agree on a mediator, or if the mediator agreed upon is unwilling or unable to act, any party may within 7 (seven) days from the date of the proposal to appoint a mediator, or within 7 (seven) days of notice to any party that is unwilling or unable to act, apply to the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa (AFSA) to appoint a mediator.
27.3 The parties will, within 7 (seven) days of the appointment of the mediator, meet with him in order to agree on a program for the exchange of any information and the structure to be adopted for the negotiation to be held in Pretoria or Johannesburg.
27.4 All negotiations connected with the dispute will be conducted in complete confidentiality and the parties undertake not to divulge details of such negotiations, except to their professional advisors, who will also be subject to such confidentiality and will be without prejudice to the rights of the parties in future proceedings.
27.5 If the parties accept the mediator’s recommendations, or otherwise reach agreement on the resolution of the dispute, such agreement shall be reduced to writing and once, it is signed by the duly authorised representatives, shall be final and binding on the parties.
27.6 Failing agreement, any of the parties may invite the mediator to provide a non-binding, but informative opinion in writing as to the merits of the dispute and the rights and obligations of the parties. Such opinion will be provided on a without prejudice basis and will be private and confidential to the parties and may not be used in evidence in any proceedings commenced pursuant to the terms of this agreement, without the prior written consent of all the parties.
27.7 Should the parties fail to reach agreement in the structured negotiations within 30 (thirty) days of the mediator being appointed, such a failure shall be without prejudice to the right of any party, subsequently to refer any dispute or difference to arbitration, but the parties agree that, before resorting to arbitration, the structured negotiations in accordance with this clause shall have taken place.
27.8 That arbitration shall be held – 27.8.1 with only the parties and their representatives including their legal representatives, present thereat; 27.