Good Offices, Conciliation or Mediation 1. The Parties may at any time agree to good offices, conciliation or mediation. They may begin at any time and be terminated by either Party at any time.
2. If the Parties agree, procedures for good offices, conciliation or mediation may continue while the dispute proceeds for resolution before an arbitral tribunal appointed under Article 15.5.
3. All proceedings under this Article shall be confidential and without prejudice to the rights of either Party in any further proceedings under the provisions of this Chapter.
Termination of Mediation The mediation shall be terminated:
1) By the execution of a Settlement Agreement by the Parties;
2) By a written declaration of the mediator to the effect that further efforts at mediation are no longer worthwhile; or
3) By a written declaration of a Party or Parties to the effect that the mediation proceedings are terminated.
Mandatory Mediation Prior to and as a condition of either Party’s filing suit in state or federal court, the Parties shall engage in a mediated settlement conference in accordance with the North Carolina Superior Court Rules Implementing Statewide Mediation. The Parties shall mediate in good faith until settlement is reached or an impasse is declared by the mediator.
Negotiation and Mediation If either party serves written notice of a Dispute upon the other party (a “Dispute Notice”), the parties will first attempt to resolve the Dispute by direct discussions between representatives of the parties who have authority to settle the Dispute. In the event the Dispute is not resolved within 15 days by the initial representatives to whom the matter is referred, the Dispute will be escalated for resolution to the CFO of each party. If the parties agree, they may also attempt to resolve the Dispute through mediation administered by a mutually agreed upon mediator.
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE & ARBITRATION It is the mutual desire of the parties hereto that complaints of employees shall be adjusted as quickly as possible. If an employee has a complaint related to an alleged violation of the Collective Agreement may at option discuss it with immediate supervisor within three (3) days after the circumstances giving rise to the complaint (grieved action) have occurred or have or ought to have reasonably come to the attention of the employee. The Supervisor shall give a response to the complaint within three (3) days. These discussions will not establish precedent. Failing settlement, or failing a response to the complaint, it may be taken up as a grievance in the following manner and sequence: Procedure: Any employee or group of employees, for whom the Union is the bargaining agent, may refer grievances to the appropriate Union ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ covered under this Collective Agreement. Grievances must be filed within fifteen (15) working days of grieved act or except where both parties agree to an extension of time. There is no grievance until an employee has reported complaint to the Supervisor. The grievance form shall contain a statement giving particulars of the grieved action, a statement as to the remedy sought and the provisions of the Agreement alleged to have been breached, provided that this does not preclude the or Employer from relying upon other provisions of the Agreement. Step Grievance form is completed in duplicate and signed by the employee and Union ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, presented to the Supervisor by the Union ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and (at their option). Both copies are to be returned by the Supervisor with signed comments to the Union ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ within three (3) working days. Once a grievance has been filed no Supervisor or Employer Official shall discuss said grievance with the grieved employee except in the presence of a ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ or Union Official. Step If satisfaction is not obtained in Step the Union ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, within five (5) working days, may refer the grievance to the Department Manager or designate, who will meet and discuss the grievance with the Union ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, (at their option) and the Human Resources Consultant then render a decision in writing on the prescribed forms within five