Minnesota Administrative Rules

5510.5170 ARBITRATION.

Subpart 1.

Referral to arbitration.

If the response of the chief administrative officer or designee is not received within the period provided in part 5510.5160 (step three) or is not satisfactory, the exclusive representative may serve written notice on the employer of its intent to refer the case to arbitration within ten days after the response required by part 5510.5160 (step three) is due.

Subp. 2.

Selection of arbitrator.

Within ten days of the service of written notice of intent to arbitrate, the employer's chief administrative officer or designee shall consult with the agent of the exclusive representative and endeavor to mutually agree upon an arbitrator to hear and decide the grievance. If the parties do not agree upon the selection of an arbitrator, either party may request a list of impartial arbitrators from the bureau. The parties shall alternately strike names from a list of seven names to be provided by the bureau until only one name remains, and the remaining name shall be the designated arbitrator. The determination of which party will commence the striking process shall be made by mutual agreement or a flip of a coin. If one party refuses to strike names from the list provided by the bureau, the other party may serve written notice of this fact upon the bureau, with a copy to the offending party. Unless it is confirmed that the parties have otherwise selected or agreed upon an arbitrator within three days of service of the notice of refusal or failure to strike names, the bureau shall designate one name from the list previously provided to the parties and the person so designated by the bureau shall have full power to act as the arbitrator of the grievance.

Subp. 3.

Arbitrator's authority.

The arbitrator shall have no authority to amend, modify, add to, or subtract from the terms of an existing contract. The decision and award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding upon both parties.

Subp. 4.

Arbitration expenses.

The employer and the exclusive representative shall share equally the arbitrator's fees and necessary expenses. Cancellation fees shall be paid by the party requesting the cancellation and any fees incurred as the result of a request for clarification shall be paid by the party requesting the clarification. Each party shall be responsible for compensating its own representatives and witnesses except to the extent provided by part 5510.5180, subpart 1.

Subp. 5.

Transcripts and briefs.

Because arbitration is intended to provide a simple, speedy alternative to litigation processes, the use of transcripts and briefs should be considered only in exceptional circumstances. If a verbatim record is required, it may be prepared providing the party desiring the record pays the cost and makes a copy available to the other party and the arbitrator without charge. The arbitrator may maintain written notes of the hearing and may use an electronic recording device to supplement the note taking. These notes shall be considered the arbitrator's private and personal property and shall not be made available to the parties or another third party. If a recording device is used by the arbitrator to supplement the arbitrator's notes, the arbitrator shall retain the recording for a period of 90 days following the issuance of the award.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 179A.04

History:

11 SR 2077; 23 SR 1564

Published Electronically:

June 11, 2008