Hearing Procedure A. The Personnel Commission may conduct hearings of appeals or may appoint a hearing officer to conduct the hearing and report findings and recommendations to the Commission. If the Personnel Commission orders a hearing, said hearing shall be held in closed session. The employee shall be given written notice of his or her right to have the complaints or charges heard in an open session rather than closed session pursuant to Government Code section 54957. The notice shall be delivered to the employee personally or by mail at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time for holding the closed session.
B. Hearings shall be conducted in the manner most conducive to determination of the truth, and neither the Commission nor its hearing officer shall be bound by technical rules of evidence. Decisions made by the Commission shall not be invalidated by any informality in the proceedings.
C. The Personnel Commission or its hearing officer shall determine the relevancy, weight, and credibility of testimony and evidence. It shall base its findings on the preponderance of evidence.
D. Each side will be permitted an opening statement (Board first) and closing arguments (employee first). The Board shall first present its witnesses and evidence to sustain its charges and the employee will then present his witnesses and evidence in defense.
E. Each side will be allowed to examine and cross-examine witnesses.
F. Both the Board and the employee will be allowed to be represented by legal counsel or other designated representation. The employee may, at his/her option, be represented by legal counsel and/or union representation, or any other person designated by the employee. If the employee files an appeal, the employee shall be required to attend the Commission Appeal Hearing, even if the employee’s designated representative appears on his/her behalf. If the employee fails to appear, the employee will be deemed to have forfeited his/her rights to further appeal and the Personnel Commission shall allow the Board of Trustee’s disciplinary action to stand.
G. The Commission may, and shall, if requested by the Board or the employee, subpoena witnesses and/or require the production of records or other material evidence.
H. The Commission may, prior to or during a hearing, grant a continuance for any reason it believes to be important to its reaching a fair and proper decision.
I. Whether the hearing is held in a public or Executive Session, the Commission, after it concludes the hearing, may deliberate its decision in Executive Session. No persons other than members of the Commission, its counsel, and the Director of Personnel shall be permitted to participate in the deliberations. If the Personnel Director or any staff was a witness in the proceedings, he shall also be barred from the Commission's final deliberations.
J. The Commission shall render its judgment in an open session as soon after the conclusion of the hearing as possible and in no event later than fourteen (14) days. Its decision shall set forth which charges, if any, are sustained and the reasons therefore.
K. The Commission may sustain or reject any or all of the charges filed against the employee. It may sustain, reject, or modify the disciplinary action invoked against the employee. It may not provide for discipline more stringent than that invoked by the Board.
L. The Commission order of judgment will be filed with the Governing Board and the charged employee and shall set forth its findings and decision. If a dismissal is not sustained, its order shall set forth the effective date the employee is to be reinstated which may be any time on or after the date of disciplinary action.
Hearing Procedures The hearing shall be held at the earliest convenient date, taking into consideration the established schedule of the Board or hearing officer and the availability of the CSEA representative, counsel and witnesses. The parties shall be notified of the time and place of the hearing after ensuring availability of all necessary parties. The employee shall be entitled to appear personally, produce evidence, and have CSEA representation. The employee shall be entitled to a public hearing if he/she demands it when the Board is hearing the appeal.
18.12.1 The complainant may also be represented by counsel. The procedure entitled "Administrative Adjudication" commencing with Government Code 11500 shall not apply to any such hearing before the Board or a hearing officer. Neither the Board nor a hearing officer shall be bound by rules of evidence used in California courts. Informality in any such hearing shall not invalidate any order or decision made or approved by the hearing officer or the Board.
18.12.2 All hearings shall be heard by a hearing officer (who shall be an attorney licensed in the State of California) except in those cases where the Board determines to hear the appeal itself. In any case in which the Board hears the appeal, the Board may use the services of its counsel or a hearing officer in ruling upon procedural questions, objections to evidence, and issues of law. However, the Board must employ separate counsel from the one presenting the case for the complainant.
18.12.3 If the appeal is heard by the Board, the Board shall affirm, modify or revoke the recommended personnel action.
18.12.4 If the appeal is heard by a hearing officer, he/she shall prepare a proposed decision in a form that may be adopted by the Board as the decision in the case. A copy of the proposed decision shall be received and filed by the Board and furnished to each party within ten days after the proposed decision is filed by the Board. After furnishing the proposed decision to each party, the Board may:
18.1.4.1 Adopt the proposed decision in its entirety.
18.1.4.2 Reduce the personnel action set forth in the proposed decision and adopt the balance of the proposed decision.
18.1.4.3 Reject a proposed reduction in personnel action, approve the disciplinary action sought by the complainant or any lesser penalty, and adopt the balance of the proposed decision.
18.1.4.4 Reject the proposed decision in its entirety.
18.12.5 If the Board rejects the proposed decision in its entirety, each party shall be notified of such action and the Board may decide the case upon the record including the transcript, with or without the taking of additional evidence, or may refer the case to the same or another hearing officer to take additional evidence. If the case is so assigned to a hearing officer, he/she shall prepare a proposed decision, as provided in item Section 18.12.4 above, upon the additional evidence and the transcript and other papers which are part of the record of the prior hearing. A copy of this proposed decision shall be furnished to each party within 10 days after the proposed decision is filed by the Board.
18.12.6 In arriving at a decision or a proposed decision on the propriety of the proposed disciplinary action, the Board or the hearing officer may consider the records of any prior disciplinary action proceedings against the employee in which a disciplinary action was ultimately sustained and any records that were contained in the employee's personnel files and introduced into evidence at the hearing.
Informal Procedure A complaint may be presented informally to the administrator whose decision or action is being contested.
Informal Grievance Procedure Employees are encouraged to act promptly to attempt to resolve disputes with their manager/supervisor through an informal procedure. A meeting between the manager/supervisor and the employee should take place whenever requested by either party to assist, to clarify or resolve the grievance. The employee may be accompanied by his/her Union representative at the informal meeting. Any resolution reached at the informal step must be in accordance with the provisions of this agreement, or other rule or ordinance and shall not set precedent.
Procedure If any action is brought against an Underwriter, a Selected Dealer or a Controlling Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 6.1, such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of such Underwriter or such Selected Dealer, as the case may be) and payment of actual expenses. Such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person unless (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action, or (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by such Underwriter (in addition to local counsel), Selected Dealer and/or Controlling Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Underwriter, Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Informal Dispute Resolution Process 1. In the event there is a dispute under this Centralized Contract, the Contractor, OGS and Authorized User agree to exercise their best efforts to resolve the dispute as soon as possible. The Contractor, OGS and Authorized User shall, without delay, continue to perform their respective obligations under this Centralized Contract which are not affected by the dispute. Primary responsibility for resolving any dispute arising under this Centralized Contract shall rest with the Authorized User’s Contractor Coordinators and the Contractor’s Account Executive and the State & Local Government Regional General Manager.
2. In the event the Authorized User is dissatisfied with the Contractor’s Products provided under this Centralized Contract, the Authorized User shall notify the Contractor in writing pursuant to the terms of the Contract. In the event the Contractor has any disputes with the Authorized User, the Contractor shall so notify the Authorized User in writing. If either party notifies the other of such dispute, the other party shall then make good faith efforts to solve the problem or settle the dispute amicably, including meeting with the party’s representatives to attempt diligently to reach a satisfactory result through negotiation.
3. If negotiation between the Contractor and Authorized User fails to resolve any such dispute to the satisfaction of the parties within fourteen (14) business days or as otherwise agreed to by the Contractor and Authorized User, of such notice, then the matter shall be submitted to the State's Contract Administrator and the Contractor’s senior executive officer representative. Such representatives shall meet in person and shall attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute within the next fourteen (14) business days or as otherwise agreed to by the parties. This meeting must be held before either party may seek any other method of dispute resolution, including judicial or governmental resolutions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall not be construed to prevent either party from seeking and obtaining temporary equitable remedies, including injunctive relief.
4. The Contractor shall extend the informal dispute resolution period for so long as the Authorized User continues to make reasonable efforts to cure the breach, except with respect to disputes about the breach of payment of fees or infringement of its or its licensors’ intellectual property rights.
Complaint Procedure Section 1. Complaints involving charges of sexual harassment, crime (whether misdemeanor or felony), or charges of discrimination are explicitly excluded from consideration under this Article. Such charges shall be pursued under appropriate laws, policies and procedures.
Section 2. Complaints by students which fall within the purview of District Student Grievance Procedures shall be processed and investigated under that procedure and shall not be subject to the provisions of this Article. Any subsequent disciplinary action resulting from the Student Grievance Procedures will be discussed with the Adjunct Faculty Member in a separate meeting and the Adjunct Faculty Member will be given the opportunity to have a union representative present; no Member shall be disciplined without just cause.
Section 3. Any complaint about an Adjunct Faculty Member shall be immediately investigated by the President or designee. If the complaint appears to have substance, the complaint and the name of the person making the complaint should generally be provided to the Adjunct Faculty Member within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the complaint.
Section 4. The complaint and the results of the investigation conducted by the President or designee shall be put into writing. If the investigation appears to substantiate the complaint, as soon as possible after such determination has been made, the President or designee shall meet with the Adjunct Faculty Member to discuss the issues which seem to be involved. The Adjunct Faculty Member may be represented by the Association during this meeting.
Section 5. If, after the meeting prescribed in Section 4, there appears to be cause, the person making the complaint shall meet with the President or designee and the Adjunct Faculty Member in an attempt to further understand the complaint or to respond to the complaint and reach a settlement. The Adjunct Faculty Member may be represented by the Association during this meeting.
Section 6. If the complaint cannot be settled to the satisfaction of all parties during the meeting provided for in Section 5, the Adjunct Faculty Member may prepare a written response to the complaint. The response shall be attached to the complaint. The complaint and the Adjunct Faculty Member’s response shall be placed in the Adjunct Faculty Member’s Personnel file.
Section 7. At any point at which the complaint is judged to be untrue or unsubstantiated, all records of the complaint shall be removed from the personnel file.
Mediation Procedure The Chairman shall promptly advise the parties of a scheduled Mediation Hearing date. Unless a party requests an expedited procedure, or unless all parties to the proceeding agree to one or more extensions of time, the Mediation Hearing set forth below shall be completed within forty (40) days of BCBSA's receipt of the Complaint. The selected mediators, unless the parties otherwise agree, shall adhere to the following procedure:
i. Each party must be represented by its CEO or other representative who has been delegated full authority to resolve the dispute. However, parties may send additional representatives as they see fit.
ii. By no later than five (5) days prior to the date designated for the Mediation Hearing, each party shall supply and serve a list of all persons who will be attending the Mediation Hearing, and indicate who will have the authority to resolve the dispute.
iii. Each party will be given one-half hour to present its case, beginning with the complaining party (or parties), followed by the other party or parties. The parties are free to structure their presentations as they see fit, using oral statements or direct examination of witnesses. However, neither cross- examination nor questioning of opposing representatives will be permitted. At the close of each presentation, the selected mediators will be given an opportunity to ask questions of the presenters and witnesses. All parties must be present throughout the Mediation Hearing. The selected mediators may extend the time allowed for each party's presentation at the Mediation Hearing. The selected mediators may meet in executive session, outside the presence of the parties, or may meet with the parties separately, to discuss the controversy.
iv. After the close of the presentations, the parties will attempt to negotiate a settlement of the dispute. If the parties desire, the selected mediators, or any one or more of the selected mediators, will sit in on the negotiations.
v. After the close of the presentations, the selected mediators may meet privately to agree upon a recommendation for resolution of the dispute which would be submitted to the parties for their consideration and approval. If the parties have previously agreed to be bound by the results of this procedure, this recommendation shall be binding upon the parties.
vi. The purpose of the Mediation Hearing is to assist the parties to settle their grievances short of mandatory dispute resolution. As a result, the Mediation Hearing has been designed to be as informal as possible. Rules of evidence shall not apply. There will be no transcript of the proceedings, and no party may make a tape recording of the Mediation Hearing.
vii. In order to facilitate a free and open discussion, the Mediation proceeding shall remain confidential. A "Stipulation to Confidentiality" which prohibits future use of settlement offers, all position papers or other statements furnished to the selected mediators, and decisions or recommendations in any Mediation proceeding shall be executed by each party.
viii. Upon request of the selected mediators, or one of the parties, BCBSA staff may also submit documentation at any time during the proceedings.
GRIEVANCE ARBITRATION PROCEDURE 8.01 For purposes of this Agreement, a grievance is defined as a difference arising between the parties relating to the interpretation, application, administration or alleged violation of the Agreement, including any question as to whether a matter is arbitrable.
8.02 In all steps of this Grievance Procedure, the aggrieved nurse, if desired, may be accompanied by or represented by a nurse representative.
8.03 It is the mutual desire of the parties hereto that complaints of the nurses shall be adjusted as quickly as possible, and it is understood that a nurse has no grievance until she has first given the Unit Manager the opportunity of adjusting her complaint. Such complaint shall be discussed with the Unit Manager within ten (10) days after the circumstances giving rise to it have occurred or ought reasonably to have come to the attention of the nurse and failing settlement within five (5) days, it shall then be taken up as a grievance within ten (10) days following the Unit Manager's decision in the following manner and sequence: The nurse may submit a written grievance on the form set out in Appendix "A", signed by her, to the Unit Manager. The grievance shall identify the nature of the grievance and the remedy sought and should identify the provisions of the Agreement which are alleged to be violated. The Unit Manager will deliver her decision in writing within five (5) days of the submission of the grievance. Failing settlement, then: Within five (5) days following the decision in Step No. 1, the nurse may submit the written grievance to the Director of Resident Care who will deliver her decision, in writing, within five (5) days from the date on which the written grievance was presented to her. The parties may, if they so desire, meet to discuss the grievance at a time and place suitable to both parties. Failing settlement, then: Within ten (10) days of receiving the decision under Step 2, the grievance, in writing, may be referred to the Chief Executive Officer who shall call a meeting of the Grievance Committee within five (5) days of receipt of same. Within five (5) days following the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer shall reply, in writing, to the nurse and the Chairperson of the Grievance Committee. If the decision is unsatisfactory to the nurse, it may be referred to arbitration within fifteen (15) days and the Chief Executive Officer so notified, in writing.
Complaints Procedure (a) A formal complaint must be submitted in writing within six months of the last alleged occurrence.
(b) A complaint must be submitted through the Union and/or directly to the Executive Director (or the equivalent or designate). When the Executive Director has received a complaint, they will notify the respondent and the union staff representative of the substance of the complaint in writing within 15 days.
(c) The complaint must contain the specific instance(s) and date(s) that the alleged harassment occurred, the names of any witnesses, an explanation of how the action constitutes a violation of Article 29 (Harassment), and the remedy sought.
(d) The Executive Director or their designate will investigate the complaint and will complete their report in writing within 30 days.
(e) The Employer will take action to resolve the complaint within 10 days of receiving the investigator's report.
(f) The Employer will advise the respondent, the complainant and the Union in writing of the substance of the investigator's report and the resolution of the complaint.
(g) If the resolution involves separating employees, reasonable efforts will be made to relocate or reschedule the respondent. The complainant may agree in writing to be transferred or rescheduled.
(h) If the resolution involves separating an employee and a respondent who is not an employee, reasonable efforts will be made to remedy the situation.
(i) If the respondent is the Executive Director (or equivalent), or where there are possible systemic issues or multiple complaints, the following process will be used:
(1) The complainant will contact the Union.
(2) As soon as possible but within 30 days the Union will notify the Executive Director (or equivalent) and CSSEA. Clause 29.4 (a) and (c) apply to the notice. CSSEA will inform the Employer's Board of Directors.
(3) CSSEA and the Union will appoint either Xxxxx Xxxxx or Xxxxxx Xxxx to resolve the complaint. (The person appointed is referred to below as "the Appointee".)
(4) After consultation with the parties involved, the Appointee will establish the process to resolve the complaint. The process may include - at the Appointee's discretion - any of the following (or any combination of them): fact-finding, mediation, making recommendations or a full report, or conducting an expedited arbitration. In exercising their discretion with respect to the process, the Appointee will consider the parties' desire that the process be fair and expeditious, that it minimizes disruption in the workplace, that it respects individual privacy to the degree possible in the circumstances, and that it keeps costs to a reasonable level. The Appointee will submit any report or recommendations to CSSEA and the Union. The report and recommendations will remain confidential, except for distribution to the Employer's Board of Directors, the complainant and the respondent. The Appointee may stipulate conditions she/he deems appropriate with respect to distribution. Any outcomes of the process are without prejudice or precedent for other proceedings.
(5) The Appointee's fees and expenses will be shared by the Employer and the Union.
(j) The Employer may take appropriate action, including discipline, against a complainant if the investigation determines that the complaint is frivolous, vindictive or vexatious.
