ARTICLE 7 – GRIEVANCE AND ARBITRATION PROCEDURE

7.01 For purposes of this Agreement, a grievance is defined as a difference arising between the parties relating to the interpretation, application, administration or alleged violation of the Agreement including any question as to whether a matter is arbitrable.

7.02 At the time formal discipline is imposed or at any stage of the grievance procedure an employee shall have the right upon request to the presence of his/her steward. In the case of suspension or discharge the Hospital shall notify the employee of this right in advance.

7.03  It is the mutual desire of the parties hereto that complaints of employees shall be adjusted as quickly as possible, and it is understood that an employee has no grievance until he has first given his immediate supervisor the opportunity of adjusting his complaint. The grievor may have the assistance of a union steward if he or she so desires. Such complaint shall be discussed with his immediate supervisor within nine (9) calendar days after the circumstances giving rise to it have occurred or ought reasonably to have come to the attention of the employee and failing settlement within nine (9) calendar days, it shall then be taken up as a grievance within nine (9) calendar days following advice of his immediate supervisor’s decision in the following manner and sequence:

Step No. 1

The employee, who may be accompanied by a steward, may submit a written grievance signed by the employee to (designated by Hospital). The grievance shall identify the nature of the grievance and the remedy sought and should identify the provisions of the Agreement which are alleged to be violated. The Union and the Hospital may, if they so desire, meet to discuss the grievance at a time and place suitable to both parties. The (designate) will deliver his decision in writing within nine (9) calendar days following the day on which the grievance was presented to him. Failing settlement or response, then:

Step No. 2

Within nine (9) calendar days following the decision in Step No.1, the grievance may be submitted in writing to the (designated by Hospital). A meeting will then be held between the (designate) and the Grievance Committee within nine (9) calendar days of the submission of the grievance at Step No. 2 unless extended by agreement of the parties. It is understood and agreed that a representative of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the grievor may be present at the meeting. It is further understood that the (designate) may have such counsel and assistance as he may desire at such meeting. The decision of the Hospital shall be delivered in writing within nine (9) calendar days following the date of such meeting.

7.04 A complaint or grievance arising directly between the Hospital and the Union concerning the interpretation, application or alleged violation of the Agreement shall be originated at Step No. 2 within fourteen (14) calendar days following the circumstances giving rise to the complaint or grievance. It is expressly understood, however, that the provisions of this Article may not be used with respect to a grievance directly affecting an employee which such employee could himself institute and the regular grievance procedure shall not be thereby bypassed.

7.05 Where a number of employees have identical grievances and each employee would be entitled to grieve separately they may present a group grievance in writing identifying each employee who is grieving to the Department Head or his designee within fourteen (14) calendar days after the circumstances giving rise to the grievance have occurred or ought reasonably to have come to the attention of the employee(s). The grievance shall then be treated as being initiated at Step No. 2 and the applicable provisions of this Article shall then apply with respect to the processing of such grievance.

7.06 The release or discharge of an employee during the probationary period shall not be the subject of a grievance or arbitration. A claim by an employee who has completed his probationary period that he has been unjustly discharged or suspended shall be treated as a grievance if a written statement of such grievance is lodged by the employee with the Hospital at Step No. 2 within seven (7) calendar days after the date the discharge or suspension is effected. Such special grievance may be settled under the Grievance or Arbitration Procedure by:

(a) Confirming the Hospital’s action in dismissing the employee; or

(b) Reinstating the employee with or without full compensation for the time lost; or

(c) By any other arrangement which may be deemed just and equitable.

Wherever the Hospital deems it necessary to suspend or discharge an employee, the Hospital shall notify the Union of such suspension or discharge in writing. The Hospital agrees that it will not suspend, discharge or otherwise discipline an employee who has completed his probationary period, without just cause.

7.07 (a) Failing settlement under the foregoing procedure of any grievance between the parties arising from the interpretation, application, administration or alleged violation of this Agreement, including any question as to whether a matter is arbitrable, such grievance may be submitted to arbitration as hereinafter provided. If no written request for arbitration is received within eighteen (18) calendar days after the decision under Step No. 2 is given, the grievance shall be deemed to have been abandoned. Where such a written request is postmarked within sixteen (16) calendar days after the decision under Step No.2, it will be deemed to have been received within the time limits.
(b) The parties agree that it is their intent to resolve grievances without recourse to arbitration, wherever possible. Therefore, notwithstanding (a) above, the parties may, upon mutual agreement, engage the services of a mediator in an effort to resolve the grievance and may extend the time limits for the request for arbitration. The parties will share equally the fees and expenses, if any, of the mediator.

7.08 All agreements reached under the Grievance Procedure between the representatives of the Hospital and the representatives of the Union will be final and binding upon the Hospital and the Union and the employees.

7.09 When either party requests that any matter be submitted to arbitration as provided in the foregoing Article, it shall make such request in writing addressed to the other party to this Agreement, and at the same time name a nominee. Within seven (7) calendar days thereafter the other party shall name a nominee, provided, however, that if such party fails to name a nominee as herein required, the Minister of Labour for the Province of Ontario shall have power to effect such appointment upon application thereto by the party invoking Arbitration Procedure. The two nominees shall attempt to select by agreement a chairman of the Arbitration Board. If they are unable to agree upon such a chairman within a period of fourteen (14) calendar days, they shall then request the Minister of Labour for the Province of Ontario to appoint a chairman.

7.10 No person may be appointed as an arbitrator who has been involved in an attempt to negotiate or settle the grievance.
7.11 No matter may be submitted to arbitration which has not been properly carried through all requisite steps of the Grievance Procedure.
7.12 The Arbitration Board shall not be authorized to make any decision inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, nor to alter, modify, add to or amend any part of this Agreement.
7.13 The proceedings of the Arbitration Board will be expedited by the parties hereto and the decision of the majority and, where there is no majority the decision of the chairman will be final and binding upon the parties hereto and the employee or employees concerned.
7.14 Each of the parties hereto will bear the expense of the nominee appointed by it and the parties will share equally the fees and expenses, if any, of the chairman of the Arbitration Board.
7.15 The time limits set out in the Grievance and Arbitration Procedures herein are mandatory and failure to comply strictly with such time limits except by the written agreement of the parties shall result in the grievance being deemed to have been abandoned subject only to the provisions of Section 48 (16) of The Labour Relations Act.
7.16 Wherever Arbitration Board is referred to in the Agreement, the parties may mutually agree in writing to substitute a single arbitrator for the Arbitration Board at the time of reference to arbitration and the other provisions referring to Arbitration Board shall appropriately apply.