Submission to Arbitration The Respondent Party may agree to the Claimant Party’s proposal of arbitration by responding in writing within ten (10) Business Days following receipt of such proposal. Within five (5) Business Days following receipt of the Respondent Party’s agreement to arbitrate, the Claimant Party may submit the Dispute Item to the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) for arbitration. No Dispute Item may be submitted for arbitration without the consent of both parties.
Referral to Arbitration Such notification shall specify the party’s choice of whether it wishes to utilize the regular arbitration procedure or the expedited arbitration procedure, as provided for within this Article. In the event that a grievance is submitted to the regular arbitration process, it shall be heard by a single arbitrator, unless either party requests that it be heard by a three-member arbitration board.
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.
(b) All grievances shall be considered suitable for and resolvable by expedited arbitration except grievances in the nature of:
(1) dismissals;
(2) rejection on probation;
(3) suspensions in excess of twenty (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; and
