ARTICLE 6 Grievance and Arbitration Procedure 6.1 Purpose a. This grievance procedure shall be used to process and resolve grievances arising under this Contract and employment-related complaints. b. The purposes of this procedure are: (1) To resolve grievances informally at the lowest possible level. (2) To provide an orderly procedure for reviewing and resolving grievances promptly. 6.2 Definitions a. A grievance is a dispute of one or more employees, or a dispute between the State and the Union, involving the interpretation, application, or enforcement of the express terms of this Contract. b. A complaint is a dispute of one or more employees involving the application or interpretation of a written rule or policy not covered by this Contract and not under the jurisdiction of the State Personnel Board. Complaints shall only be processed as far as the department head or designee. c. As used in this procedure, the term "immediate supervisor" means the individual identified by the department head. d. As used in this procedure, the term "party" means the Union, an employee, or the State. e. A "Union representative" refers to a Union steward or staff representative or a bargaining unit council representative. 6.3 Time Limits Each party involved in a grievance shall act quickly so that the grievance may be resolved promptly. Every effort should be made to complete action within the time limits contained in the grievance procedure. However, with the mutual consent of the parties, the time limitation for any step may be extended. 6.4 Waive of Steps The parties may mutually agree to waive any step of the grievance procedure. 6.5 Presentation At any step of the grievance procedure, the State representative may determine it desirable to hold a grievance conference. If a grievance conference is scheduled, the grievant or a Union steward, or both, may attend without loss of compensation. A Union representative or job steward may request a meeting at the 1st or 2nd step providing it causes no additional cost to the State. 6.6 Informal Discussion An employee's grievance initially shall be discussed with the employee's immediate supervisor. Within seven (7) calendar days, the immediate supervisor shall give his/her decision or response. 6.7 Formal Grievance - Step 1 a. If an informal grievance is not resolved to the satisfaction of the grievant, a formal grievance may be filed no later than: (1) Fourteen (14) calendar days after the event or circumstances occasioning the grievance, or (2) Within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the decision rendered in the informal grievance procedure. b. However, under no circumstances may the period in which to bring the grievance be extended beyond the fourteen (14) calendar days in (1) above. c. A formal grievance shall be initiated in writing on a form provided by the State and shall be filed with a designated supervisor or manager identified by each department head as the first level of appeal. d. Within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the formal grievance, the person designated by the department head as the first level of appeal shall respond in writing to the grievance. e. No contract interpretation or grievance settlement made at this stage of the grievance procedure shall be considered precedential. All interpretations and settlements shall be consistent with the provisions of this Contract. 6.8 Formal Grievance - Step 2 a. If the grievant is not satisfied with the decision rendered pursuant to Step 1, the grievant may appeal the decision within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt to a designated supervisor or manager identified by each department head as the second level of appeal. If the department head or designee is the first level of appeal, the grievant may bypass Step 2. b. Within twenty-one (21) calendar days after receipt of the appealed grievance, the person designated by the department head as the second level of appeal shall respond in writing to the grievance. c. No contract interpretation or grievance settlement made at this stage of the grievance procedure shall be considered precedential. All interpretations and settlements shall be consistent with the provision of this Contract. 6.9 Formal Grievance - Step 3 a. If the grievant is not satisfied with the decision rendered pursuant to Step 2, the grievant may appeal the decision within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt to a designated supervisor or manager identified by each department head as the third level of appeal. If the department head or designee is the second level of appeal, the grievant may bypass Step 3. b. Within twenty-one (21) calendar days after receipt of the appealed grievance, the person designated by the department head as the third level of appeal shall respond in writing to the grievance. 6.10 Formal Grievance - Step 4 a. If the grievant is not satisfied with the decision rendered at Step 3, the grievant may appeal the decision within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt to the Director of the Department of Personnel Administration or designee. b. Within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the appealed grievance, the Director of the Department of Personnel Administration or designee shall respond in writing to the grievance. 6.11 Response If the State fails to respond to a grievance within the time limits specified for that step, the grievant shall have the right to appeal to the next step. 6.12 Formal Grievance - Step 5 a. If the grievance is not resolved at Step 4, within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the fourth level response the Union shall have the right to submit the grievance to arbitration. b. Within thirty-one (31) calendar days after the second notice requesting arbitration has been served on the State or at a date mutually agreed to by the parties, the parties shall meet to select an impartial arbitrator. If no agreement is reached at this meeting, the parties shall, immediately and jointly, request the American Arbitration Association, State Conciliation and Mediation Service, or the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to submit to them a panel of ten (10) arbitrators from which the State and Union shall alternately strike names until one name remains and this person shall be the arbitrator. c. The arbitration hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the Voluntary Labor Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association. The cost of arbitration shall be borne equally between the parties. d. An arbitrator may, upon request of the Union and the State, issue his/her decision, opinion or award orally upon submission of the arbitration. Either party may request that the arbitrator put his/her decision, opinion, or award in writing and that a copy be provided. e. The arbitrator shall not have the power to add to, subtract from, or modify this Contract. Only grievances as defined in Section 6.2.a. of this Article shall be subject to arbitration. In all arbitration cases, the award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon the parties. 6.13 Health and Safety Grievances All Health and Safety grievances deemed necessary for expedited processing shall first be appealed directly to the second level of the grievance procedure pursuant to the modified time limits set forth below: a. Health and Safety Grievance - Step 2 (1) If the grievant is not satisfied with the decision rendered by his/her supervisor pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Article, the grievant may appeal the decision within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the decision to a designated supervisor or manager identified by each department head as the second level of appeal. (2) Within five (5) calendar days after receipt of the appealed grievance, the person designated by the department head as the second level of appeal shall respond in writing to the grievance. b. Health and Safety Grievance - Step 3 (1) If the grievant is not satisfied with the decision rendered pursuant to Step 2, the grievant may appeal the decision within fourteen (14) calendar days of receipt to a designated supervisor or manager identified by each department head as the third level of appeal. If the department head or designee is the second level of appeal, the grievant may bypass Step 3. (2) Within fourteen (14) calendar days after receipt of the appealed grievance, the person designated by the department head as the third level of appeal shall respond in writing to the grievance. (3) If the grievance is not resolved at Step 3, within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the third step response the Union shall have the right to submit the grievance to arbitration. c. The selection of the arbitrator shall be in accordance with Section 6.12.b. of this Article and the case must be before an arbitrator within twenty (20) calendar days.