NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE 3.1 On or before September 1 of the prior year in which this agreement is to expire either party may initiate negotiations in accordance with RSA 273:A. The parties shall meet not later than September 15th, at which time the Association shall submit its proposals, unless another date is mutually agreed to by the parties.
3.2 The Negotiating Committee of the Board and the Negotiating Committee of the Association shall have authority to reach a complete agreement, subject to ratification by the Board and the qualified voting members of the Association covered by this Agreement.
3.3 Any agreement reached shall be reduced to writing and signed by the Board and the Association. Any agreement reached which requires the expenditure of additional public funds for its implementation shall not be binding on the Board, unless and until the necessary appropriations have been made by the Annual School District Meeting. The Board shall make a good faith effort to secure the funds necessary to implement said agreements.
3.4 If, after discussion of all negotiable matters, the parties fail to reach agreement, either party may declare impasse. In the event of impasse, the rules and procedures for “Resolution of Disputes” as outlined under RSA 273: A-12 shall be followed.
3.5 The cost for the services of the mediator and/or fact finder including per diem expenses, if any, will be shared equally by the Board and the Association.
3.6 Determinations and/or recommendations under the provision of Section 3.4 of this Article III will not be binding on the parties in accordance with RSA 273: A
3.7 If the monies to fund the economic provisions are not appropriated as provided in this Article III, Section 3.3 and/or if either party rejects the recommendations set forth in this Article III, Section 3.6, then the parties shall do the following:
A. The appropriate party shall notify the other party of its intent to renegotiate the provisions of this Agreement, and:
B. If either negotiating team rejects the neutral party’s recommendations, his/her findings and recommendations shall be submitted to the full membership of the employee organization and to the Board of the public employer, which shall vote to accept or reject so much of his/her recommendations as is otherwise permitted by law.
C. If either the full membership of the employee organization or the public employer rejects the neutral party’s recommendations, his/her findings and recommendations shall be submitted to the legislative body of the public employer, which shall vote to accept or reject so much of his/her recommendations as otherwise is permitted by law.
D. If the impasse is not resolved following the action of the legislative body, negotiations shall be reopened. Mediation may be requested by either party and may involve the Board of the public employer if the mediator so chooses.
3.8 The parties may, by mutual agreement, pass over mediation and go directly to fact finding.
3.9 Neither party in any negotiations shall interfere with the selection of the negotiating or bargaining representatives of the other party.
Consultation Procedure If a party hereto is unable to meet the provisions of the Service Level Agreement, or in the event that a dispute arises relating to performance goals set forth in the Service Level Agreement, either party to this Agreement shall address any concerns it may have by requiring a consultation with the other party.
NEGOTIATION PROCEDURES A. At least sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of this Agreement, the parties will begin negotiations for a new Agreement covering wages, hours, terms and conditions of employment of employees covered by this Agreement.
B. In any negotiations described in this article, neither party shall have control over the selection of the negotiating representatives of the other party and each party may select its representatives from within or outside the school district. It is recognized that no final Agreement between the parties may be executed without ratification by the Board and the Association. The parties mutually pledge that representatives selected by each shall be clothed with necessary power and authority to make proposals and concessions in the course of negotiations, subject only to such ultimate ratification.
C. If the parties fail to reach an agreement in any such negotiations, either party may invoke the procedures established under Public Act 379 as amended.
D. Members of the Association’s negotiating team and/or consultants thereto, who are employees of the Employer, shall be released from their normal duties without loss of salary when meetings of the two negotiating teams are scheduled during their normal working hours.
E. The parties hereby agree that their Teams shall meet at least quarterly during the school year to attempt to resolve problems. The topics for these meetings shall be established by the group at the previous quarter’s meeting whenever possible. Topics will remain on the agendas until resolved or until deleted by mutual agreement.
F. Prior to the establishment of any new position in the bargaining unit, the Employer shall notify the Association of such a contemplated action, and meet with the Association to negotiate workload for the position. This provision does not preclude the Employer’s ability to create and post positions. If the timing of the decision to establish the position precludes such a meeting, the Employer shall meet with the Association as soon as possible. The parties may agree that the position should be allowed to operate without a defined workload for some defined period of time to determine what a reasonable workload might be.
G. By mutual consent of both parties any section of this agreement may be reopened.
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.
Resolution Procedure a. Step 1
i. The complainant, if comfortable with that approach, may choose to speak to or correspond directly with the alleged harasser to express their feelings about the situation.
ii. Before proceeding to Step 2, the complainant may approach their administrative officer, staff rep or other contact person to discuss potential means of resolving the complaint and to request assistance in resolving the matter. If the matter is resolved to the complainant's satisfaction the matter is deemed to be resolved. Refer to Article E.
Evaluation Procedure The procedural requirements set forth in this agreement which conform with and provide specificity to the statutory obligations established by Ohio Rev. Code § 3319.111 and § 3319.112.
Arbitration Procedure The following procedures shall govern the conduct of any arbitration under this section. All procedural matters relating to the conduct of the arbitration other than those specified below shall be discussed among counsel for the parties and the arbitrator. Subject to any agreement of the parties, the arbitrator shall determine all procedural matters not specified herein.
(a) Within 30 days after the delivery of a Notice of Arbitration, each party shall afford the other, or its counsel, with reasonable access to documents relating directly to the issues raised in the Notice of Arbitration. All documents produced and all copies thereof shall be maintained as strictly confidential, shall be used for no purpose other than the arbitration hereunder, and shall be returned to the producing party upon completion of the arbitration. There shall be no other discovery except that, if a reasonable need is shown, limited depositions may be allowed in the discretion of the arbitrator, it being the expressed intention and agreement of each party to have the arbitration proceedings conducted and resolved as expeditiously, economically and fairly as reasonably practicable, and with the maximum degree of confidentiality.
(b) All written communications regarding the proceeding sent to the arbitrator shall be sent simultaneously to each party or its counsel, with a copy to the Additional Notice Parties. Oral communications between any of the parties or their counsel and the arbitrator shall be conducted only when all parties or their counsel are present and participating in the conversation.
(c) Within 20 days after selection of the arbitrator, the Claimant shall submit to the arbitrator a copy of the Notice of Arbitration, along with a supporting memorandum and any exhibits or other documents supporting the Claim.
(d) Within 20 days after receipt of the Claimant’s submission, the Opposing Party shall submit to the arbitrator a memorandum supporting its position and any exhibits or other supporting documents. If the Opposing Party fails to respond to any of the issues raised by the Claimant within 20 days of receipt of the Claimant’s submission, then the arbitrator may find for the Claimant on any such issue and bar any subsequent consideration of the matter.
(e) Within 20 days after receipt of the Opposing Party’s response, the Claimant may submit to the arbitrator a reply to the Opposing Party’s response, or notification that no reply is forthcoming.
(f) No later than twenty (20) days prior to the hearing date scheduled by the arbitrator each party shall provide the other, and the arbitrator, with a list and copies of the documents upon which they may rely and/or submit as exhibits at the hearing and a list of the witnesses they may present, with a reasonably detailed summary of the testimony that each witness may give.
(g) Within 10 days after the last submission as provided above, the arbitrator shall notify the parties and the Additional Notice Parties of the date of the hearing on the issues raised by the Claim. Scheduling of the hearing shall be within the sole discretion of the arbitrator, but in no event more than 30 days after the last submission by the parties, and shall take place within 50 miles of the corporate headquarters of the Company at a place selected by the arbitrator or such other place as is mutually agreed. Both parties shall be granted substantially equal time to present evidence at the hearing. The hearing shall not exceed one business day, except for good cause shown.
(h) Within 30 days after the conclusion of the hearing, the arbitrator shall issue a written decision to be delivered to both parties and the Additional Notice Parties (the “Final Determination”). The Final Determination shall address each issue disputed by the parties, state the arbitrator’s findings and reasons therefor, and state the nature and amount of any damages, compensation or other relief awarded.
(i) The award rendered by the arbitrator shall be final and non-appealable, except as otherwise provided under the applicable Arbitration Act, and judgment may be entered upon it in accordance with applicable law in such court as has jurisdiction thereof.
Dispute Resolution Procedure 21.1 All disputes or grievances arising between the Parties shall as far as practical be resolved at the workplace level through consultation. Accordingly the following procedure must be followed:
21.1.1 Initially the Employee shall discuss any grievance, dispute or claim with their immediate supervisor;
21.1.2 If the matter is not resolved at such a meeting, the Parties may hold further discussions with appropriate senior levels of management;
21.1.3 If the matter cannot be resolved at the workplace level, the Parties agree to refer the matter to Enterprise Initiatives Pty Ltd who will engage a third party mediator to mediate the dispute. Any such mediator will conduct the mediation in accordance with the provisions of Part 13, Division 6 of the Act.
21.2 To the extent that the dispute concerns Employee entitlements or Employer obligations under the Agreement the Employer will ask for the Employee's agreement to seek advice from EI Legal Pty Ltd.
21.3 This dispute resolution procedure does not apply to Employees where the Employer has given notice and reasons for termination according to clause 5 of the Agreement.
21.4 Where the Parties agree to pursue mediation the Parties:-
21.4.1 Will participate in the mediation process in good faith;
21.4.2 Acknowledge the right of other to appoint in writing, another person to act on their behalf in relation to the mediation process;
21.4.3 Agree not to commence any action against the other; and
21.4.4 Agree that during the time when the Parties attempt to resolve the matter:
i) the Parties continue to work in accordance with the contract of employment unless the Employee has a reasonable concern about an imminent risk to his or her health or safety; and
ii) subject to relevant provisions of any state or territory occupational safety law, even if the Employee has a reasonable concern about an imminent risk to his or her health or safety, the Employee must not unreasonably fail to comply with a direction by his or her Employer to perform other available work, whether at the same workplace or another workplace, that is safe and appropriate for the Employee to perform; and
iii) the Parties must cooperate to ensure that the dispute resolution procedures are carried out as quickly as is reasonably possible.
NEGOTIATIONS PROCEDURE A. Upon the request of Local 149 or the Board, not earlier than ninety (90) calendar days prior to the expiration of this Agreement, the parties may open negotiations for a successor contract. The first meeting will be held within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt of the request unless the parties mutually agree to a later date.
B. The Board and the Union shall be represented at negotiation meetings by a team of not more than six (6) members each.
C. The Board and the Union negotiating teams shall exchange items for negotiations at the first negotiating session. All contract proposals shall be presented in writing by both parties. No issue shall be introduced by either party following the first session unless mutually agreed by both negotiating teams.
D. Neither team shall release information to the public media without mutual agreement of the other team until such time as impasse is declared by either side.
E. When tentative agreement is reached covering the matters of negotiation, it shall be reduced to writing, reproduced at Board expense for the Local 149 membership to ratify or reject. When approved by Local 149 membership, it shall be presented to the Board for its approval or rejection.
F. In the event agreement is not reached within thirty (30) calendar days after the first actual negotiating session, either party may request that Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service be notified and requested to furnish the services of a mediator for the purpose of assisting the parties in reaching agreement. The request for a mediator shall be jointly filed. This procedure is intended to serve as an alternate dispute resolution procedure to those set forth in Chapter 4117 of the Ohio Revised Code.
G. The procedures set forth above may be modified prior to the start of negotiations by joint agreement of the parties. Should that occur, the bargaining shall be governed by the ground rules agreed to modifying these procedures.
Purpose of Consultation Procedure The purpose of the consultation procedure is to endeavor to resolve any failure to meet the provisions of the Service Level Agreement. If a consultation occurs under this Section V, all parties must negotiate in good faith to endeavor to:
1. implement changes which will enable the Service Level Agreement provisions to be met – such changes may include, but are not limited to, modification of either or both parties’ respective operational resources;
2. agree to alternative Service Level Agreement provisions which meet the parties’ respective business requirements; or
3. otherwise find a solution such that within a reasonable time after the consultation, the inability to meet the Service Level Agreement provision(s) is reasonably expected to be less likely to occur in the future.
