Written Grievance If the grievance is not resolved at Step 1, the home care worker and/or Union representative shall set forth the grievance in writing including a statement of the pertinent facts surrounding the grievance, the date on which the incident occurred, the alleged violations of the Agreement, and the specific remedy requested. The written grievance shall be submitted to the Employer within thirty (30) calendar days of the occurrence of the alleged violation or within thirty (30) calendar days of when the home care worker or the Union could reasonably have been aware of the incident or occurrence giving rise to the grievance. The written grievance shall be submitted by email to xxxxx.xxxxxxxxx@xxx.xx.xxx. The Employer or the Employer's designee shall meet with the grievant and their Union representative within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the written grievance, in order to discuss and resolve the grievance. Subsequent to this meeting, if the grievance remains unresolved, the Employer will provide a written response to the grievance by email within fourteen (14) calendar days from the date the parties met to discuss the grievance. If the response does not resolve the grievance, the Union may, within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the response, proceed to Step 4, Arbitration. As an alternative prior to final and binding arbitration in Step 4, if the matter is not resolved in Step 2 the parties may choose by mutual agreement to submit the matter to mediation in order to resolve the issue. The party requesting mediation of the dispute must notify the other party by email no later than fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt by the Union of the emailed response from the Employer in Step 2. The party receiving the request for mediation must notify the other party by email within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of the request whether or not it agrees to mediate the dispute. If the party receiving the request does not agree to mediate the dispute, the Union may, within fourteen (14) calendar days of the email notification of the decision not to mediate, proceed to Step 4, Arbitration. If the parties agree to mediation, they shall select a neutral mediator. Both parties shall submit a statement of their position on the issue. The mediator may also bring the parties together in person to attempt to resolve the issue. The parties shall each pay one-half (1/2) the costs or fees, if any, of the neutral mediator. Each party shall be responsible for its own costs, including the costs of representation, advocacy and the costs of that party's appointed representatives. If the issue is successfully resolved by mediation, the decision shall be binding on all parties, and shall, unless specifically agreed otherwise, form a precedent for similar issues. If the issue is not successfully resolved through mediation, the Union may, within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt of a written declaration of impasse or rejection of a settlement offer from either party, proceed to Step 4, Arbitration.
