Step 4 - Arbitration If the grievance is not settled on the basis of the foregoing procedures, the Association may submit the issue in writing to final and binding arbitration within ten (10) calendar days following receipt of the Medical Center Chief Administrative Officer or designee’s response. Within ten (10) calendar days of the notification that the dispute is submitted for arbitration, the Association shall request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to supply a list of eleven (11) arbitrators from Washington and Oregon and the parties shall alternate in striking names from such list until the name of one (1) arbitrator remains who shall be the arbitrator. The party to strike the first name shall be determined by coin toss. The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding, subject to limits of authority stated herein. The arbitrator shall have no authority or power to add to, delete from, disregard, or alter any of the provisions of this Agreement, but shall be authorized only to interpret the existing provisions of this Agreement as they may apply to the specific facts of the issue in dispute. The arbitrator shall base his or her decision solely on the contractual obligations expressed in this Agreement. If the arbitrator should find that the Employer was not prohibited by this Agreement from taking, or not taking, the action grieved, he or she shall have no authority to change or restrict the Employer’s action. The arbitrator shall not reverse the Employer’s exercise of discretion in any particular instance and substitute his or her own judgment or determination for that of the Employer. If a nurse feels the Employer’s determination is based upon bad faith, is arbitrary and capricious, is based on irrelevant information or favoritism, the nurse shall have recourse to the grievance procedure. Any dispute as to procedure shall be heard and decided by the arbitrator in a separate proceeding prior to any hearing on the merits. Any dismissal of a grievance by the arbitrator, whether on the merits or on procedural grounds, shall bar any further arbitration. Each party shall bear one half (½) of the fee of the arbitrator and any other expense jointly incurred by mutual agreement incident to the arbitration hearing. All other expenses, including any costs or attorneys’ fees, shall be borne by the party incurring them, and neither party shall be responsible for the expenses of witnesses called by the other party.
Step Four - Arbitration 15.6.1. If a grievance is not resolved at Step Three, the Association may request a hearing before an arbitrator. The request shall be filed in the Human Resource Services Division or designee within fifteen (15) workdays after the written decision of the division representative becomes effective.
Costs of the Arbitration Each party is responsible for its own attorney, expert, and other costs and fees unless applicable law requires otherwise. Each party is also responsible for one-half of any costs and fees charged by the arbitration organization and arbitrator(s) to administer the arbitration to the maximum extent permitted by law or rule. Where permissible by law, the prevailing party may be required to reimburse the other party for the costs and fees of the arbitration organization and arbitrator(s) in whole or in part by decision of the arbitrator(s) at the discretion of the arbitrator(s).
