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.
Appeals Procedure If Employee appeals to the Administrator, Employee or his authorized representative may submit in writing whatever issues and comments he believes to be pertinent. The Administrator shall reexamine all facts related to the appeal and make a final determination of whether the denial of benefits is justified under the circumstances. The Administrator shall advise Employee in writing of:
(1) The Administrator's decision on appeal.
(2) The specific reasons for the decision.
(3) The specific provisions of the Agreement on which the decision is based. Notice of the Administrator's decision shall be given within 60 days of the Claimant's written request for review, unless additional time is required due to special circumstances. In no event shall the Administrator render a decision on an appeal later than 120 days after receiving a request for a review.
Claim Procedure Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification (provided that the failure to give prompt notice shall impair any Person’s right to indemnification hereunder only to the extent such failure has prejudiced the indemnifying party) and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such indemnified parties with respect to such claim. In such instance, the conflicted indemnified parties shall have a right to retain one separate counsel, chosen by the Holders representing a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the registration if such Holders are indemnified parties, at the expense of the indemnifying party.
Review Procedure If the Plan Administrator denies part or all of the claim, the claimant shall have the opportunity for a full and fair review by the Plan Administrator of the denial, as follows:
Impasse Procedure 5.1 If negotiations are not successfully concluded by the first day of school, impasse shall exist. At any earlier time either party may declare impasse. Upon reaching of impasse, the items causing the impasse shall be referred to a three-member committee.
5.2 The fact finding committee consisting of three (3) members shall be formed. One
(1) member shall be selected by the Association, and one (1) member shall be selected by the Board within five (5) days. The third member shall be selected by the first two (2) members as follows: The parties shall notify the State Superintendent of Public Instruction that a Fact finder is needed and request a list of potential fact finders from the State Superintendent. If no name on the list is agreeable to both parties, a coin toss shall occur with the party winning the toss having the right to strike a name from the list until only one name remains. The person whose name remains on the list will serve as the chairperson of the fact finding committee.
5.3 Within five (5) days after the selection of the chairman, the representatives who have been negotiating for the Board and for the Association shall meet to exchange written language on each item at impasse. The exchanged documents shall also be furnished by each party to the chairman and other members of the committee.
5.4 The chairman shall convene the committee for fact finding. This committee shall meet with the representatives of both parties. Within twenty (20) days after the chairman is selected, the committee shall present written recommendations to the local Board and to the Association.
5.5 If either party decides it must reject any one or more of the committee's recommendations, said party must, within seven (7) days after the committee has presented its recommendations, request a meeting of the representatives who have been negotiating for the Board and for the Association. The parties shall meet within seven (7) days of the request, unless both parties deem it unnecessary. At such meeting, the representatives shall exchange written statements expressing each party's rationale for rejecting each recommendation found unacceptable and shall attempt to clarify any remaining differences. The representatives shall then resume good faith effort to resolve the remaining differences; provided, after fourteen (14) days after the exchange of the written statements, either party may discontinue such effort.
5.6 The costs for the services of the fact-finding committee, including per diem expenses if any, and actual and necessary travel expenses shall be shared in the following manner: the Board shall assume the expenses of the Board representative, the Association shall assume the expenses of the Association representative, and the expenses of the third member shall be shared equally by the Board and the association.
5.7 The Board shall file a copy of the fact finding report with the office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. If the effort to resolve differences is successful, the parties shall draft a written agreement and present the agreement to both parties for ratification, and upon ratification such agreement shall also be forwarded to the State Superintendent. If the effort to resolve differences is unsuccessful, the Board shall forward to the State Superintendent in writing its final disposition of the negotiations impasse process within thirty (30) days of the effective date of implementation.
Dispute Procedure (1) Unless otherwise provided in the Council's Constitution or in this Collective Agreement, any dispute within the registered scope of the Council shall be resolved as set out below:
(a) The General Secretary of the Council shall, after consultation with the Secretary of any relevant Regional Chamber, decide whether any dispute referred to the Council must be dealt with by the Council or the Regional Chamber.
(b) The Council shall, from time to time, adopt, by resolution, guidelines for the General Secretary of the Council to follow in the allocation of such disputes.
(c) When any dispute is allocated to a Regional Chamber in terms of this clause, then such Regional Chamber shall have the same rights, powers and obligations as the Council.
Claims Procedure Any person or entity who has not received benefits under the Plan that he or she believes should be paid (the “claimant”) shall make a claim for such benefits as follows:
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.
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.
Formal Procedure No different or additional Work or contractual obligations will be authorized or performed unless contemplated within the Scope of Work and memorialized in an amendment or modification of the Contract that is executed in compliance with this Article. No waiver of any term, covenant, or condition of the Contract will be valid unless executed in compliance with this Article. Contractor will not be entitled to payment for Work that is not authorized by a properly executed Contract amendment or modification, or through the express written authorization of HHSC. Any changes to the Contract that results in a change to either the term, fees, or significantly impacting the obligations of the parties to the Contract must be effectuated by a formal Amendment to the Contract. Such Amendment must be signed by the appropriate and duly authorized representative of each party in order to have any effect.
