PROCEDURES FOR CONDUCTING NEGOTIATIONS Either party may request negotiations for a successor Agreement by issuing a notice to negotiate to the other party between one hundred twenty (120) and ninety (90) days prior to the expiration of this Agreement. The State Employment Relations Board will also be notified of the intent to open negotiations at this time. Within fifteen (15) days of receipt of said notice, representatives of the parties shall meet and submit proposals for the successor Agreement. Said proposals shall be comprehensive in nature and no additional issues shall be introduced after the first session without mutual agreement. Subsequent bargaining sessions shall be set at times and dates as are mutually agreed to by the teams. Negotiation teams will be limited to five (5) members each. Both sides may agree to change this size by mutual agreement. Negotiation sessions shall be conducted in executive session; however, this does not prohibit the flow of information to either party’s constituency. The style of bargaining shall be mutually decided by the parties prior to negotiations. Upon request of either bargaining team, a bargaining session may be recessed to permit a caucus. When negotiations are conducted during regular school hours, release time shall be provided for the Association’s bargaining team. (Reference: Article 18) There shall be three (3) signed copies of the final agreement. One (1) copy shall be retained by the Board, one (1) by the Association, and one (1) shall be submitted to the State Employment Relations Board. As tentative agreement is reached on each issue, it shall be so noted and initialed by each party. When consensus is reached covering the areas under discussion, the proposed Agreement shall be reduced to writing as a tentative agreement and submitted to the Association and the Board for approval. Following approval by the Association and Board, a contract shall be entered into by both parties. The Association and the Board agree to abide by the terms of the Agreement. The final Agreement, as adopted by the Board and ratified by the Association, will be printed and presented within thirty (30) days. The cost of such printing, including labor and material shall be borne by the Board In the event an agreement is not reached after forty-five (45) days from the first bargaining session, either of the parties shall have the option of requesting the assistance of a federal mediator under the guidelines of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. In the event that the services of a mediator are called upon, the mediation process will last twenty-one
Grievance Procedures The AGENCY agrees to establish a formal written grievance process with procedures through which clients and recipients of services may present grievances to the governing authority of the AGENCY regarding services being provided under this Contract. Additionally, the AGENCY agrees to establish fair hearing procedures that ensure all persons will be advised of their rights to a fair hearing to appeal a denial or exclusion from services and/or the failure of staff to take into account the individual’s choice of service. The AGENCY’S internal grievance procedure must document and include, at a minimum, the following: date of grievance, a written response to the applicant sent within thirty (30) days, and the opportunity for the applicant to meet with the AGENCY Executive Director or designee. Upon request by the COUNTY, the AGENCY shall provide a written report as to the grievance outcome within five (5) normal COUNTY working days. The AGENCY will maintain these documents on file for review by the COUNTY.