Informal Resolution of Disputes 10.5.1 Upon receipt by one Party of notice of a dispute by the other Party pursuant to Section 10.3 or Section 10.4.5, each Party will appoint a knowledgeable, responsible representative to meet and negotiate in good faith to resolve any dispute arising under this Agreement. The location, form, frequency, duration, and conclusion of these discussions will be left to the discretion of the representatives. Upon agreement, the representatives may utilize other alternative Dispute Resolution procedures such as mediation to assist in the negotiations. Discussions and the correspondence among the representatives for purposes of settlement are exempt from discovery and production and will not be admissible in the arbitration described below or in any lawsuit without the concurrence of both Parties. Documents identified in or provided with such communications that were not prepared for purposes of the negotiations are not so exempted, and, if otherwise admissible, may be admitted in evidence in the arbitration or lawsuit.
Informal Dispute Resolution (a) Prior to the initiation of formal dispute resolution procedures (i.e., arbitration), the Parties shall first attempt to resolve their dispute at the senior manager level. If that level of dispute resolution is not successful, the Parties shall proceed informally, as follows: (i) Upon the written request of either Party, each Party shall appoint a designated representative who does not otherwise devote substantially full time to performance under this Agreement, whose task it will be to meet for the purpose of endeavoring to resolve such dispute. (ii) The designated representatives shall meet as often as the Parties reasonably deem necessary in order to gather and furnish to the other all information with respect to the matter in issue that the Parties believe to be appropriate and germane in connection with its resolution. The representatives shall discuss the problem and attempt to resolve the dispute without the necessity of any formal proceeding. (iii) During the course of discussion, all reasonable requests made by one Party to another for non-privileged non-confidential information reasonably related to this Agreement shall be honored so that each of the Parties may be fully advised of the other's position. (iv) The specific format for the discussions shall be left to the discretion of the designated representatives. (b) Prior to instituting formal proceedings, the Parties will first have their chief executive officers meet to discuss the dispute. This requirement shall not delay the institution of formal proceedings past any statute of limitations expiration or for more than fifteen (15) days. (c) Subject to Subsection (b), formal proceedings for the resolution of a dispute may not be commenced until the earlier of: (i) The designated representatives concluding in good faith that amicable resolution through continued negotiation of the matter does not appear likely; or (ii) Thirty (30) days after the initial written request to appoint a designated representative pursuant to Subsection (a), above, (this period shall be deemed to run notwithstanding any claim that the process described in this Section 11.2 was not followed or completed). (d) This Section 11.2 shall not be construed to prevent a Party from instituting, and a Party is authorized to institute, formal proceedings earlier to avoid the expiration of any applicable limitations period, or to preserve a superior position with respect to other creditors or as provided in Section 11.6(a).
GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION PROCEDURE 8.01 The parties to this agreement believe it is important to adjust complaints and grievances as quickly as possible as provided for herein. The employee or Union shall first discuss any individual complaint informally with the Director of Care or designate at the first opportunity. 8.02 In all steps of this grievance procedure an aggrieved employee, if she so desires may be accompanied by or represented by her Union Representative. At Step 1 of the grievance procedure a representative of the Ontario Nurses' Association may be present at the request of either party. 8.03 Should any dispute arise between the Employer and an employee, or between the Employer and the Union, as to the interpretation, application, administration or alleged violation of any of the provisions of this Agreement, the employee or Union Representative will bring it to the attention of the immediate supervisor to settle such differences within ten (10) days of the occurrence. If further action is to be taken, then within ten (10) days of the discussion, the employee, who may request the assistance of her Union Representative and/or Labour Relations Officer, shall submit the written grievance to the Administrator or designate. A meeting will be held between the parties within ten (10) days. The Administrator shall give a written decision within ten (10) days of the meeting to the Bargaining Unit President or her designate with a copy to the Labour Relations Officer. Should the Administrator fail to render his decision or failing settlement of any grievance under the foregoing procedure, including any questions as to whether a matter is arbitrable, the grievance may be referred to arbitration by either party. If no written notice of intent to submit the matter for arbitration is received within ten (10) days after the decision under Step No. 1 is received, the grievance shall be deemed to have been settled or abandoned. 8.04 A written grievance will indicate the nature of the grievance and the remedy sought by the grievor. Union grievances shall be set out on the union grievance form. Alternately, the parties may agree to an electronic version of this form and a process for signing. 8.05 Time limits fixed in the grievance and arbitration procedures may be extended only by written, mutual consent of the parties. Should the Employer not respond within the time limit(s) fixed, such failure to respond shall be deemed to be a denial of the grievance. Should a grievance not be submitted within the various time limits specified in this Agreement, unless mutually extended, it shall be considered to have been settled or abandoned.