MIDDLE SCHOOLS 1. Where there are no negotiated provisions concerning the implementation or operation of a middle school program, this article shall govern the implementation or operation of a middle school program in a school district.
2. Should the employer seek to establish a middle school program in one or more schools in a district, the employer and the local shall meet, no later than ten (10) working days from a decision of the employer to implement a middle school program, in order to negotiate any alternate or additional provisions to the Collective Agreement which are necessary to accommodate the intended middle school program.
3. In the absence of any other agreement with respect to the instructional day and preparation time, the provisions of the Collective Agreement with regard to secondary schools shall apply to middle schools.
4. If the employer and the local are unable to agree on what, if any, alternate or additional provisions of the collective agreement are necessary to accommodate the intended middle school program(s), either party may refer the matter(s) in dispute to expedited arbitration for final and binding resolution pursuant to Article D.5.5 below.
a. The jurisdiction of the arbitrator shall be limited to the determination of alternate or additional provisions necessary to accommodate the intended middle school program(s).
b. In the event the arbitration is not concluded prior to the implementation of the middle school program, the arbitrator will have remedial authority to make appropriate retroactive modifications and adjustments to the agreement.
c. The arbitration shall convene within thirty (30) working days of referral to arbitration in accordance with the following:
i. Within ten (10) working days of the matter being referred to arbitration, the parties shall identify all issues in dispute;
ii. Within a further five (5) working days, there shall be a complete disclosure of particulars and documents;
iii. Within a further five (5) working days, the parties shall exchange initial written submissions;
iv. The hearing shall commence within a further ten (10) working days; and
v. The arbitrator shall render a final and binding decision within fifteen (15) working days of the arbitration concluding.
6. Where a middle school program has been established on or prior to ratification of the 2006-2011 Provincial Collective Agreement, the existing provisions shall be retained unless the parties mutually agree that they should be amended.
