Formal Level (1) Level I - within fifteen (15) days after the occurrence of the alleged violation, misinterpretation, or misapplication of a provision of this Agreement, the grievant must present the grievance in writing on the approved form or lose the right to grieve. The form shall contain a clear, concise statement of the grievance, including the provision or provisions of this Agreement alleged to have been violated, misinterpreted, or misapplied; the circumstances involved, the decision rendered at the informal level, and the specific remedy sought. The immediate supervisor shall hold a hearing with the grievant, and shall communicate the decision in writing to the grievant within seven (7) days after receiving the grievance. In the event the immediate supervisor fails to conduct a hearing and render a decision in writing within seven days, the grievant shall notify the Superintendent, who shall convene a hearing with the immediate supervisor and the grievant within seven (7) days after notification, and direct the immediate supervisor to render a decision in writing. Such a directed decision shall be made within three (3) days.
(2) Level II - In the event the grievant is not satisfied with the decision at Level I, the grievant may appeal the decision on the approved form to the Superintendent or his/her designee within seven (7) days of the receipt of the Level I decision. The form shall include a copy of the original grievance, the decision at Level I, and a clear and concise statement of the reason for the appeal. The Superintendent or his designee shall hold a hearing with the parties and render a written decision within ten (10) days of the receipt of the appeal.
(3) Level III - In the event the grievant is not satisfied with the decision at Level II, the Association may advise the District within seven (7) days of receipt of the Level II decision of its intent to request a mediator from the California State Conciliation Mediation Service.
Informal Level Before filing a formal written grievance, the grievant shall attempt to resolve it by an informal conference with his/her immediate supervisor.
Staffing Levels To the extent legislative appropriations and PIN authorizations allow, safe staffing levels will be maintained in all institutions where employees have patient, client, inmate or student care responsibilities. In July of each year, the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of each agency will, upon request, meet with the Union, to hear the employees’ views regarding staffing levels. In August of each year, the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of Budget and Management will, upon request, meet with the Union to hear the employees’ views regarding the Governor’s budget request.
Step 4 In the event the dispute is not resolved at Step 3 above, either party may serve upon the other and the COORDINATOR written notice by certified mail, within five (5) working days, requesting that the dispute be resolved by arbitration. If such a written notice is served, the parties shall jointly request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to submit the names of five (5) qualified arbitrators, from which list the UNION and the EMPLOYER shall alternately strike names until only one name is left, which person shall hear and resolve the dispute. A hearing shall be conducted by the arbitrator, at which time the parties to the dispute shall be given the opportunity to appear and offer evidence in support of their positions. A decision by the arbitrator shall be rendered in writing within a reasonable time, not to exceed ten (10) days after the conclusion of the hearing. The decision by the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties; provided, however, that the arbitrator shall not have the authority to alter or amend the provisions of this AGREEMENT in any way. The reasonable expenses and fees of the arbitrator shall be borne equally by the parties.
Step 2 (a) If the grievance is not resolved at Step 1, the grievant or designated representative may submit the grievance in writing on a grievance form as contained in Appendix B of this Agreement, to the Agency Head or designated representative within 15 days following receipt of the decision at Step 1. The grievance form must contain the same information as the grievance filed at Step 1. The grievance shall include a copy of the grievance form submitted at Step 1, together with the written response and documents in support of the grievance.
(b) The Agency Head or designated representative shall communicate a decision in writing to the grievant and the PBA Grievance Representative, if any, within 15 days following receipt of the written grievance. If the Agency Head fails to respond within the time limit, it shall be deemed a denial.
(c) If a grievance, alleging that a disciplinary action (reduction in base pay, demotion, involuntary transfer of more than 50 miles by highway, suspension, or dismissal) was taken without cause, is not resolved at Step 2, the PBA representative, or the grievant or grievant’s representative, if not represented by PBA, may appeal the grievance to arbitration as provided in Article 6, Section 3(G)(4), below, within 15 days after receipt of the Step 2 decision.
Step IV If the grievant is not satisfied with the disposition of the grievance or if no disposition has been made within the above stated time limits, the grievant and/or the Association shall complete Grievance Report Form, Step IV, within ten (10) school days after notification of Step III disposition and submit the grievance to final and binding arbitration according to the voluntary rules and regulations of the American Arbitration Association. The Arbitrator's decision will be final and binding on all parties. The cost of arbitration shall be the responsibility of the party losing arbitration.
Step III 21.5.1 If the employee desires to appeal the grievance to Step III, the employee shall indicate in writing the reason for the appeal and present it along with the original written grievance to the Municipal Employee Relations Officer or designee within ten (10) working days following receipt of the written decision at Step II.
21.5.2 Within ten (10) working days after receipt of the appeal to Step III, the Municipal Employee Relations Officer or designee shall schedule a meeting with the employee, the appropriate Union representative, and the Department Director or designee to discuss the matter. A written decision shall be given to the employee or the appropriate Employee Organization representative within ten (10) working days following the meeting.
21.5.3 If the decision of the Municipal Employee Relations Officer or designee is unsatisfactory, the appropriate Employee Organization representative may appeal the grievance to Step IV - Arbitration.
Service Level Expectations Without limiting any other requirements of the Agreement, the Service Provider shall meet or exceed the following standards, policies, and guidelines:
Performance Levels (a) The Performance Levels which apply to the performance by the respective Parties of their obligations under this Agreement are set out in Part 1 of Schedule 5. A failure by either Party to achieve the relevant Performance Level will not constitute a breach of this Agreement and the only consequences of such failure as between the Parties shall be the consequences set out in this Clause 5.6.
(b) If the Operator does not comply with the Operator Performance Level then the Access Holder must pay to QR Network the amount determined in accordance with Schedule 5 as part of the invoice issued by QR Network for Access Charges and other charges for the Billing Period immediately following QR Network becoming entitled to that amount. Where there is no next Billing Period, the Operator must pay such amount to QR Network within fourteen (14) days after receipt of a Tax Invoice from QR Network.
(c) If QR Network does not comply with the QR Network Performance Level then QR Network will credit to the Access Holder the amount determined in accordance with Schedule 5 by way of a deduction from the invoice issued by QR Network for Access Charges and other charges for the Billing Period immediately following the Access Holder becoming entitled to that amount. Where there is no next Billing Period, QR Network must pay such amount to the Access Holder within fourteen (14) days after receipt of a Tax Invoice from the Access Holder.
(d) The Parties must, if requested by either Party, meet to review the Performance Levels subject to such review not occurring within six (6) Months after the Commitment Date or any previous review of the Performance Levels. If either Party notifies the other that it considers that the Performance Levels are no longer appropriate, the Parties may agree on varied Performance Levels and any associated variations to the Agreement including the Base Access Charges and the Train Service Description. If the Parties are unable to agree to such variations, then the existing Performance Levels shall continue to apply unless varied by QR Network in accordance with the provisions of Clause 5.6(e).
(e) In the event that the Access Holder and/or the Operator
(i) does not comply in any material respect with the Train Service Description; and
(ii) the Access Holder fails to demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of QR Network when requested to do so, that the Access Holder will consistently comply with the Train Service Description for the remainder of the Term then, following consultation with the Access Holder, QR Network will be entitled to:
(iii) vary the Train Service Description to a level it reasonably expects to be achievable by the Access Holder for the remainder of the Term having regard to the extent of previous compliance with the Train Service Description (ignoring, for the purpose of assessing previous compliance, any non-compliance to the extent that the non-compliance was attributable to a Railway Operator (other than the Access Holder) or to QR Network); and
(iv) vary the Agreement (including, without limitation, the Operator Performance Level and the Base Access Charges) to reflect the impact of the change in the Train Service Description.
(f) The Access Holder shall be entitled to dispute any variation proposed by QR Network pursuant to Clause 5.6(e) and such dispute will be referred to an expert for resolution in accordance with Clause 17.3.
Adjustment of Minimum Quarterly Distribution and Target Distribution Levels (a) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution, Third Target Distribution, Common Unit Arrearages and Cumulative Common Unit Arrearages shall be proportionately adjusted in the event of any distribution, combination or subdivision (whether effected by a distribution payable in Units or otherwise) of Units or other Partnership Securities in accordance with Section 5.10. In the event of a distribution of Available Cash that is deemed to be from Capital Surplus, the then applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall be adjusted proportionately downward to equal the product obtained by multiplying the otherwise applicable Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, as the case may be, by a fraction of which the numerator is the Unrecovered Capital of the Common Units immediately after giving effect to such distribution and of which the denominator is the Unrecovered Capital of the Common Units immediately prior to giving effect to such distribution.
(b) The Minimum Quarterly Distribution, First Target Distribution, Second Target Distribution and Third Target Distribution, shall also be subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 6.9.
