Dispute Resolution; Arbitration This Agreement evidences a transaction involving interstate commerce. Any disputes arising from this Agreement shall be decided by binding arbitration which shall be conducted, at the request of any party, in New York, New York, before one arbitrator designated by the American Arbitration Association (the "AAA"), in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA, and to the maximum extent applicable, the United States Arbitration Act (Title 9 of the United States Code). Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any party may proceed to a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain equitable relief at any time. An arbitrator shall have no authority to award punitive damages or other damages not measured by the prevailing party's actual damages. To the maximum extent practicable, an arbitration proceeding under this Agreement shall be concluded within 180 days of the filing of the dispute with the AAA. This arbitration clause shall survive any termination, amendment, or expiration of the Agreement and if any provision of this arbitration clause is found to be unenforceable, the remaining parts of the arbitration clause shall not be affected and shall remain fully enforceable.
Mediation/Arbitration All disputes arising out of this Agreement shall be resolved as set forth in this paragraph 15. If any party hereto desires to make any claim arising out of this Agreement ("Claimant"), then such party shall first deliver to the other party ("Respondent") written notice ("Claim Notice") of Claimant's intent to make such claim explaining Claimant's reasons for such claim in sufficient detail for Respondent to respond. Respondent shall have ten (10) business days from the date the Claim Notice was given to Respondent to object in writing to the claim ("Notice of Objection"), or otherwise cure any breach hereof alleged in the Claim Notice. Any Notice of Objection shall specify with particularity the reasons for such objection. Following receipt of the Notice of Objection, if any, Claimant and Respondent shall immediately seek to resolve by good faith negotiations the dispute alleged in the Claim Notice, and may at the request of either party, utilize the services of an independent mediator. If Claimant and Respondent are unable to resolve the dispute in writing within ten (10) business days from the date negotiations began, then without the necessity of further agreement of Claimant or Respondent, the dispute set forth in the Claim Notice shall be submitted to binding arbitration (except for claims arising out of paragraphs 3 or 7 hereof),
Step 4 - Arbitration After receipt of a notice to arbitrate from the Lodge President, designees of the City Manager and the Lodge President shall attempt to agree on an arbitrator. If this attempt is not successful or is waived, the arbitrator shall be selected by the parties making a joint request to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) for a panel list of nine (9) arbitrators with business addresses in Ohio. The parties shall then choose an arbitrator by alternately striking names from the list until such time as one
(1) name remains as the arbitrator chosen by the parties. Prior to beginning the striking procedure, either the Employer or the Lodge may reject the list and submit a request for another list from the arbitration tribunal. Each party may only reject the list once. In issuing an award, the arbitrator shall be limited to the enforcement of the specific provisions of the Agreement. The arbitrator may not alter, amend, modify, add to or subtract from the provisions of the Agreement. The question of arbitrability of a grievance may be raised by the Employer or the Lodge before the arbitration hearing on the grounds that the matter is nonarbitrable or beyond the arbitrator's jurisdiction. The first question to be placed before an arbitrator will be whether or not the alleged grievance is within the purview of arbitrability. Thereafter, the alleged grievance will be heard on its own merits before the same arbitrator. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding, subject to appeal under applicable state law. The arbitrator shall be without authority to recommend any right to relief on any alleged grievance occurring at any other time than the agreement period in which the right originated. The arbitrator shall not establish any new or different wage rates not negotiated as part of the Agreement. In case of discharge, suspension or reduction, the arbitrator shall have the authority to award modification of said discipline. Both the Lodge and the Employer shall share equally in the cost of the arbitration proceedings. Any member whose testimony is relevant to the arbitration, shall be released with pay to attend the hearing, provided that the hearing is held during the member's regular work hours. The expenses of any non-member witnesses shall be borne by the party requesting the non-member's attendance at the Arbitration Hearing. The arbitrator shall render in writing his or her findings and the award as quickly as possible within thirty (30) calendar days after the hearing is closed and post-hearing briefs are submitted. The arbitrator shall forward such findings and award to the City Manager, or designee, and to the Lodge President, or designee.
Level Four - Arbitration a. Within ten (10) school days after such written notice of submission to arbitration, the Board and the Association shall attempt to agree upon a mutually acceptable Arbitrator and shall obtain a commitment from said Arbitrator to serve. If the parties are unable to agree upon a mutually acceptable Arbitrator, or obtain such a commitment within the specified period, a request for a list of Arbitrators may be made to the Public Employment Relations Commission by either party. The parties shall then be bound by the rules and procedures of the Public Employment Relations Commission in selection of an Arbitrator.
b. The Arbitrator so selected shall confer with the Committee of the Board and the Aggrieved Person and Association representative, and hold hearings promptly and shall issue his decision not later than twenty (20) days from the date of the close of the hearings, or if oral closings have been waived, then from the date the final statements and proofs on the issues are submitted to him. The Arbitrator's decision shall be in writing and shall set forth his findings of fact, reasoning and conclusions on the issues submitted. The Arbitrator shall be without power or authority to make any decision which requires the commission of an act prohibited by law, or which is violative of the terms of this Agreement. The decision of the Arbitrator shall be submitted to the Board and the Aggrieved Person and Association representative, and shall be final and binding on the parties. The Arbitrator shall be limited to the issues submitted and shall consider nothing else. The Arbitrator can add nothing to, nor subtract anything from the Agreement between the parties.
c. The costs for the services of the Arbitrator, including per diem expenses, if any, and actual and necessary travel, subsistence expenses, and the cost of the hearing room, shall be borne equally by the Board and the Association. Any other expenses incurred shall be paid by the party incurring same.
