Article 3: Collective Bargaining Procedures

3.1

Negotiations for a successor agreement may be initiated by either party by submitting a written notice to the opposite party requesting the commencement of negotiations. The notice shall be sent no earlier than one hundred twenty (120) days and no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expiration date of the Agreement. Within a reasonable time period after receiving notice, not to exceed thirty (30) days, the party receiving the request for bargaining shall respond in writing and shall suggest a date at which the parties shall meet and determine a mutually agreed upon time and place to begin negotiations. In the event a party opens negotiations in accordance with this Article, bargaining will commence no later than sixty (60) days prior to the expiration of this Agreement.

3.2

Negotiations shall be conducted in closed sessions. This provision prohibits the public airing of any issues or the progress of the negotiations.

3.3

Negotiations ground rules shall be negotiated by the parties.

3.4

During the negotiations, the parties shall meet at mutually acceptable times and locations.

3.5

All agreements reached by the parties shall be initialed as tentative agreements. Such tentative agreements are conditional and may be withdrawn should later discussions change either teams understanding of the language as it relates to another part of the Agreement. Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties, tentative agreements shall not become effective until the entire negotiation package is ratified by the parties.

3.6

If an impasse occurs, either party shall request mediation assistance. if the parties cannot agree on a mediator, either party may request the assistance of the federal mediation and conciliation service. Upon the conclusion of the fact-finding hearing, the fact finder shall recommend only the last best final total package offer of one of the parties.

3.7

The parties shall agree upon a date after which no new issues will be allowed except by the mutual agreement of the parties. The non-economic issues shall be negotiated and agreed upon to the extent possible prior to proceeding to the economic issues.