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.
Formal Dispute Resolution 10.6.1 If the Parties are unable to resolve the dispute through the informal procedure described in Section 10.5, then either Party may invoke the formal Dispute Resolution procedures described in this Section 10.6. Unless agreed among all Parties, formal Dispute Resolution procedures, including arbitration or other procedures as appropriate, may be invoked not earlier than sixty (60) calendar days after receipt of the letter initiating Dispute Resolution under Section 10.3.
Informal Dispute Resolution Prior to the initiation of formal dispute resolution procedures, the Parties shall first attempt to resolve their Dispute informally, in a timely and cost-effective manner, as follows:
Step 3 - Arbitration If the grievance is not settled on the basis of the foregoing procedures, and if the grievant and the Union have complied with the specific time limitations specified in Steps 1 and 2 herein, the Union may submit the issue in writing to arbitration within fourteen (14) calendar days following the receipt of the written reply from the Director of Employee Relations and Employment or designee. After notification that the dispute is submitted for arbitration, the Employer and the Union shall attempt to agree on an arbitrator. If the Employer and the Union fail to agree on an arbitrator, the Union shall promptly request a list of seven (7) arbitrators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The parties shall thereupon alternate in striking a name from the panel until one (1) name remains. The person whose name remains shall be the arbitrator.
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.
