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9 <br /> <br />ARTICLE 6 - GRIEVANCES <br />For the purpose of this Agreement, the term grievance shall mean a dispute between the Employer and the Union <br />or the Employer and an employee concerning alleged misinterpretation or violation of the Agreement. Grievant <br />shall mean any aggrieved employee and/or the Union. <br /> <br />It is mutually agreed that the Union has the right in its own capacity to act as an aggrieved party in the grievance <br />procedure. In the event that the aggrieved party is an individual employee, the grievance procedure shall begin <br />with Step 1. In the event the Union is the aggrieved party, the procedure shall begin with Step 3. <br /> <br />The grievant shall have thirty (30) calendar days to initiate the grievance procedure from the time the aggrieved <br />party first becomes aware of the alleged grievance. <br /> <br />Step 1: The grievant shall submit in writing, to the Union grievance committee, all relevant facts involving the <br />alleged grievance along with the remedy sought. The Union grievance committee, upon receiving the <br />written and signed statement, shall determine if a grievance exists within fourteen (14) calendar days after <br />receipt of the said grievance. If, in their opinion, no grievance exists, no further action will be taken. <br /> <br />Step 2: If the committee agrees that a grievance does exist, they and/or the employee shall outline the grievance <br />in writing, identify all relevant facts and specify the article(s) and section(s) in dispute along with the <br />remedy sought and present the same to the employee's Assistant Chief of Operations within fourteen (14) <br />calendar days. The Assistant Chief of Operations shall forward a copy of the grievance immediately to the <br />Fire Chief. <br /> <br />Step 3: If within fourteen (14) calendar days following receipt the Assistant Chief of Operations has not settled <br />the grievance satisfactorily, the committee and/or the employee may submit it to the Fire Chief. If the <br />grievant is the Union, the first step of the grievance shall be to submit the grievance in writing to the Fire <br />Chief using the grievance format (facts, contract provisions and remedy) of Step 2. <br /> <br />Step 4: If within fourteen (14) calendar days following receipt the Chief has not settled the grievance <br />satisfactorily, the committee and/or employee may submit it to the Mayor. <br /> <br />Step 5: If within fourteen (14) calendar days following receipt the Mayor has not settled the grievance <br />satisfactorily, the Union may submit the grievance to arbitration. The City and Union representatives <br />shall meet within forty-five (45) calendar days of receipt of the grievance by the Chief to select a neutral <br />arbitrator. If the parties cannot agree to the appointment of a neutral arbitrator, the parties shall submit a <br />request to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) for a listing of nine (9) professional <br />arbiters. Within seven (7) calendar days following receipt of the list from the FMCS, the parties shall <br />meet and shall take turns in striking names from the list until one remains; the first striking to be <br />governed by the toss of a coin. The decision of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon all parties <br />concerned. Each side to the arbitration shall pay for one-half of the arbitrator's fees and expenses. <br /> <br />The employee or Union and the City may, by mutual written agreement, extend the time limits specified in this <br />grievance procedure. <br /> <br />By mutual written agreement, any step in the grievance procedure may be omitted and the grievance advanced to <br />the next step. <br />