Impasse Procedures The Parties shall seek to reach agreement relative to the appointment of a mediator not later than the sixtieth (60) day preceding the budget submission date. The Parties shall seek to reach agreement relative to the appointment of a fact finder not later than the forty-fifth (45) day preceding the budget submission date. The Parties shall consider but not be limited to the service of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the American Arbitration Association for a mediator and fact finder respectively. If the Parties fail to reach an agreement on the choice of a mediator or fact finder, the PELRB shall be petitioned under the provisions of 273-A: 12.
Expert Determination If a Dispute relates to any aspect of the technology underlying the provision of the Goods and/or Services or otherwise relates to a financial technical or other aspect of a technical nature (as the Parties may agree) and the Dispute has not been resolved by discussion or mediation, then either Party may request (which request will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) by written notice to the other that the Dispute is referred to an Expert for determination. The Expert shall be appointed by agreement in writing between the Parties, but in the event of a failure to agree within ten (10) Working Days, or if the person appointed is unable or unwilling to act, the Expert shall be appointed on the instructions of the relevant professional body. The Expert shall act on the following basis: he/she shall act as an expert and not as an arbitrator and shall act fairly and impartially; the Expert's determination shall (in the absence of a material failure to follow the agreed procedures) be final and binding on the Parties; the Expert shall decide the procedure to be followed in the determination and shall be requested to make his/her determination within thirty (30) Working Days of his appointment or as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter and the Parties shall assist and provide the documentation that the Expert requires for the purpose of the determination; any amount payable by one Party to another as a result of the Expert's determination shall be due and payable within twenty (20) Working Days of the Expert's determination being notified to the Parties; the process shall be conducted in private and shall be confidential; and the Expert shall determine how and by whom the costs of the determination, including his/her fees and expenses, are to be paid.
NEGOTIATING PROCEDURES 1. Prior to the time set for entering into the process for negotiations, the Board through the Superintendent, and the Association, through its President, shall each designate in writing the names of not more than seven persons who shall serve on their respective negotiating teams and be responsible for negotiations pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement. Each party shall also designate the person on its team who will be the chief negotiator. If either party finds it necessary to change members of the team during negotiations, the party shall so inform the other party in writing, each party agreeing to keep changes as minimal as possible.
2. Negotiation meetings shall be closed to all except the Association and the Board designated negotiations team members and consultants.
3. Negotiation meetings will be conducted at the times and places mutually agreeable to the negotiators named by each party. A maximum time limit of two hours will be set for each session; however, an extension of time may be taken, if such extension is mutually agreeable to both teams. Any emergency meeting can be called by mutual consent of the spokesperson of both teams.
4. Negotiation meetings shall be scheduled at times which will not interfere with the teacher work day and the education program.
5. The requests for negotiations by the Association or by the Board of Education shall be in writing. The written requests shall be submitted by the President of the Association to the Superintendent, or by the Board of Education to the President of the Association, no later than April 1st of each year.
6. When using non-collaborative bargaining, the Association and the Board of Education will submit their packages of proposals to be negotiated by April 1st with the first meeting to be held no later than May 1st. However, when collaborative bargaining is being utilized, both parties will come to an agreement upon the date for beginning negotiations. At this meeting, proposals and/or issues requested for negotiations shall be within the scope of negotiable items as previously set forth.
7. Each team is responsible for the disposal of its' own respective proposals and/or issues in one of the following methods:
a. Agreement on the item
b. Agreement to withdraw the item
c. Sending the item to impasse In case of collective bargaining, all non-monetary items shall be disposed of by June 15. By mutual agreement of both teams, the June 15 date may be altered by written notification. In the case of either collective or collaborative bargaining, all items shall be disposed no later than the first day of school. By mutual agreement, all timelines may be extended.
8. Tentative agreements reached as a result of such negotiations shall be reduced to writing to be presented to the Association for ratification. Following such ratification, the agreements shall be presented to the Board for ratification. The Board shall act upon the agreements within two regular board meetings following Association ratification. Upon ratification and after necessary action by the Board, terms of the agreement shall be implemented. The Board recognizes that wages, hours, fringe benefits and terms and conditions of employment are negotiable items and such negotiated items will not be changed except through the negotiations process as outlined in this agreement.
9. Negotiations shall begin upon the first meeting between the duly appointed teams.
10. All negotiation items sent to impasse by the respective teams shall be sent to fact-finding as a package at the conclusion of discussions.
Dispute Procedures Contact Think with any questions concerning this Agreement or the Services by calling 0- 000-000-0000 (toll-free), Monday - Friday 8AM – 8PM ET (note these hours may change); by sending a letter to Think, P. O. Box 1288, Greens Farms, Connecticut 06838; or by sending an email to: xxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx. Think will refer all complaints and inquiries to a representative who will attempt to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution. If your complaint or inquiry is not resolved after you have called Think and/or the EDC, or for general information, you may contact the DPU for assistance toll-free at (000) 000-0000, or at XXXXxxxxxxx.Xxxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx, or by sending a letter to the DPU at: 0 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000. You have a right to make a formal or informal complaint to the DPU or any regulatory body with authority to review your complaint. In addition, mediation is available for disputes greater than $100. Nothing in the Arbitration, Waiver of Jury Trial, and Class Action Waiver Section below is intended to bar your right to make a complaint or request mediation. ARBITRATION. Think’s Arbitration and Class Action Wavier Policy Addendum, which is available and provided to you during the enrollment process is incorporated herein and made a part hereof, contains additional details and a complete description of the terms and conditions of the Arbitration and Class Action Waiver Policy, including your ability to opt out. Warranties. THINK MAKES NO EXPRESS REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO THE PROVISION OF ELECTRIC SERVICE AND DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, OR ARISING OUT OF ANY COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE EXCEPT WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Limitation of Liability. You will be deemed to be in exclusive control (and responsible for any damages or injury caused thereby) of the electric power after receipt at the delivery point(s). TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THINK WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR INDIRECT DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR OTHER BUSINESS INTERRUPTION DAMAGES), WHETHER BY STATUTE, IN CONTRACT OR TORT, EVEN IF THE RESULT OF NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, JOINT, CONCURRENT, ACTIVE, OR PASSIVE). ALL OTHER LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO DIRECT ACTUAL DAMAGES ONLY, AND SUCH DIRECT ACTUAL DAMAGES WILL BE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY. YOU HEREBY WAIVE ALL OTHER REMEDIES AT LAW OR IN EQUITY. THERE ARE NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES TO THIS AGREEMENT. To the extent any damages required to be paid hereunder are liquidated, the Parties acknowledge that the damages are not intended and shall not be construed as a penalty, such damages are difficult or impossible to determine, that otherwise obtaining an adequate remedy is inconvenient or impossible, and that the liquidated damages constitute a reasonable approximation of the harm or loss.
Impasse Procedure 5.1 If negotiations are not successfully concluded by the first day of school, impasse shall exist. At any earlier time either party may declare impasse. Upon reaching of impasse, the items causing the impasse shall be referred to a three-member committee.
5.2 The fact finding committee consisting of three (3) members shall be formed. One
(1) member shall be selected by the Association, and one (1) member shall be selected by the Board within five (5) days. The third member shall be selected by the first two (2) members as follows: The parties shall notify the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that a Fact finder is needed and request a list of potential fact finders from the State Superintendent. If no name on the list is agreeable to both parties, a coin toss shall occur with the party winning the toss having the right to strike a name from the list until only one name remains. The person whose name remains on the list will serve as the chairperson of the fact finding committee.
5.3 Within five (5) days after the selection of the chairman, the representatives who have been negotiating for the Board and for the Association shall meet to exchange written language on each item at impasse. The exchanged documents shall also be furnished by each party to the chairman and other members of the committee.
5.4 The chairman shall convene the committee for fact finding. This committee shall meet with the representatives of both parties. Within twenty (20) days after the chairman is selected, the committee shall present written recommendations to the local Board and to the Association.
5.5 If either party decides it must reject any one or more of the committee's recommendations, said party must, within seven (7) days after the committee has presented its recommendations, request a meeting of the representatives who have been negotiating for the Board and for the Association. The parties shall meet within seven (7) days of the request, unless both parties deem it unnecessary. At such meeting, the representatives shall exchange written statements expressing each party's rationale for rejecting each recommendation found unacceptable and shall attempt to clarify any remaining differences. The representatives shall then resume good faith effort to resolve the remaining differences; provided, after fourteen (14) days after the exchange of the written statements, either party may discontinue such effort.
5.6 The costs for the services of the fact-finding committee, including per diem expenses if any, and actual and necessary travel expenses shall be shared in the following manner: the Board shall assume the expenses of the Board representative, the Association shall assume the expenses of the Association representative, and the expenses of the third member shall be shared equally by the Board and the association.
5.7 The Board shall file a copy of the fact finding report with the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. If the effort to resolve differences is successful, the parties shall draft a written agreement and present the agreement to both parties for ratification, and upon ratification such agreement shall also be forwarded to the State Superintendent. If the effort to resolve differences is unsuccessful, the Board shall forward to the State Superintendent in writing its final disposition of the negotiations impasse process within thirty (30) days of the effective date of implementation.
Informal Procedures A. The grievant should first discuss the matter with his/her principal or administrator or supervisor to whom he/she is directly responsible in an effort to resolve the problem informally.
B. If the grievant is not satisfied with the disposition of the matter, he/she shall have the right to have a representative of his/her choice to assist him/her in further efforts to resolve the problem informally with the principal or other appropriate administrator or supervisor.
DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES The Employer agrees to provide the employee with written notification of a disciplinary document that is to be made a part of the employee’s personnel file. In instances where the Employer desires to conduct an investigatory interview with an employee, the employee shall be entitled upon request to have an Association representative present at the interview. A copy of all disciplinary actions involving suspension or discharge will also be provided to the Association, unless the employee requests that the matter be kept confidential.
Disagreement on Decision Should the parties disagree as to the meaning of the Board's decision, either party may apply to the Chairperson of the Arbitration Board to reconvene the Board to clarify the decision, which it shall make every effort to do within seven days.
NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES A. At least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of this Agreement, the parties will begin negotiations for a new Agreement covering wages, hours, terms and conditions of employment of employees covered by this Agreement.
B. In any negotiations described in this article, neither party shall have control over the selection of the negotiating representatives of the other party and each party may select its representatives from within or outside the school district. It is recognized that no final Agreement between the parties may be executed without ratification by the Board and the Association. The parties mutually pledge that representatives selected by each shall be clothed with necessary power and authority to make proposals and concessions in the course of negotiations, subject only to such ultimate ratification.
C. If the parties fail to reach an agreement in any such negotiations, either party may invoke the procedures established under Public Act 379 as amended.
D. Members of the Association’s negotiating team and/or consultants thereto, who are employees of the Employer, shall be released from their normal duties without loss of salary when meetings of the two negotiating teams are scheduled during their normal working hours.
E. The parties hereby agree that their Teams shall meet at least quarterly during the school year to attempt to resolve problems. The topics for these meetings shall be established by the group at the previous quarter’s meeting whenever possible. Topics will remain on the agendas until resolved or until deleted by mutual agreement.
F. Prior to the establishment of any new position in the bargaining unit, the Employer shall notify the Association of such a contemplated action, and meet with the Association to negotiate workload for the position. This provision does not preclude the Employer’s ability to create and post positions. If the timing of the decision to establish the position precludes such a meeting, the Employer shall meet with the Association as soon as possible. The parties may agree that the position should be allowed to operate without a defined workload for some defined period of time to determine what a reasonable workload might be.
G. By mutual consent of both parties any section of this agreement may be reopened.
Determination by the Reviewing Party If the Company reasonably believes that it is not obligated under this Agreement to indemnify the Indemnitee, the Company shall, within 10 days after the Indemnitee’s written request for an advancement or reimbursement of Expenses, notify the Indemnitee that the request for advancement of Expenses or reimbursement of Expenses will be submitted to the Reviewing Party (as hereinafter defined). The Reviewing Party shall make a determination on the request within 30 days after the Indemnitee’s written request for an advancement or reimbursement of Expenses. Notwithstanding anything foregoing to the contrary, in the event the Reviewing Party informs the Company that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification in connection with a Proceeding under this Agreement or applicable law, the Company shall be entitled to be reimbursed by Indemnitee for all the Expenses previously advanced or otherwise paid to Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding; provided, however, that Indemnitee may bring a suit to enforce his/her indemnification right in accordance with Section C.3 below.
