POLICY FOR ARBITRATION OF STAFF (FOR STAFF HIRED JUNE 1, 2014 OR LATER) EMPLOYMENT DISPUTES
April 1, 2002; updated April 1, 2008; updated April 1, 2010; updated April 1, 2013; updated June 1, 2014; revised June 2017
1. Arbitrable Disputes. In the event a dispute arises between the employee signing this Agreement (“Employee”) and Pacific Lutheran University (“PLU”) or any of PLU’s officers, regents, employees or agents in their capacity as such, regarding any matter arising out of Employee’s employment with PLU, or the separation thereof, including, but not limited to, any dispute or claim arising under any federal or state statute, regulation, law or common law, relating to the employment relationship (collectively “arbitrable matters”), the dispute shall be resolved solely and exclusively by final and binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the terms set forth herein. Arbitrable matters shall not include: 1) a claim for workers’ compensation benefits; or 2) a claim for unemployment compensation benefits. This Agreement does not limit Employee’s right to file a charge with the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Washington State Human Rights Commission or similar government agency.
2. Waiver of Judicial Forum. The Employee and PLU waive any right to a judicial forum other than for the purposes of enforcing this agreement, obtaining a judgment on the arbitration award or collecting on such a judgment. Any dispute concerning the interpretation or enforceability of this Arbitration Agreement, including, any dispute about the enforceability of this arbitration agreement, the scope of arbitrable issues, the severability of any clause, and any defense to arbitration shall be decided by the arbitrator.
3. Arbitration Procedures.
a. Commencement of Arbitration. Arbitration of an arbitrable matter shall be commenced by serving a written demand for arbitration on the other party, either personally or by both regular first class mail and certified mail, return receipt requested. A demand for arbitration initiated by an Employee shall be addressed to PLU’s Associate Vice President of Human Resources. The demand for arbitration shall be served within the applicable statute of limitations periods (deadlines for filing) for the claims upon which the party’s demand for arbitration is based. If arbitration is demanded on a claim after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitation period, the claim shall be void and deemed waived. The demand for arbitration shall identify and describe all of the claims asserted, the facts upon which such claims are based and the relief or remedy sought. After a party serves a demand for arbitration on the other party, the parties shall file a request for arbitration with the Washington Arbitration and Mediation Service (“WAMS”).
b. Arbitration Rules of Procedure. The arbitration proceeding shall be governed by and conducted in accordance with the WAMS Arbitration Rules (“Rules”) in effect at the time arbitration is demanded. The Rules are available on line at https://usamwa.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/2011-wams-arbitration-rules.pdf. Any disputes or disagreements regarding the arbitration proceeding shall be presented to the arbitrator for resolution. The arbitration hearing shall be scheduled and held in accordance with the Rules. The arbitrator shall render an award and written opinion no later than thirty (30) days following the arbitration hearing. The opinion shall include the factual and legal basis for the award. A judgment on the arbitration award issued pursuant to this Agreement may be entered by a court of competent jurisdiction over the parties.
c. Fees and Expenses. The parties agree that the expense of the arbitration and the arbitrator’s fees and expenses shall be borne by PLU, except in the case of an arbitration demanded by the Employee, the Employee shall be required to pay only the portion of the expense of the arbitration and the arbitrator’s fees and expenses equal to the amount the Employee would be required to pay to file suit in Washington State Superior Court. Each party shall pay for its own costs and attorney’s fees, if any, except as provided in Paragraph 4 below.
4. Law and Remedies. In making the decision and rendering the award, the arbitrator shall apply applicable substantive law. The arbitrator may award injunctive relief or any other remedy that would have been available to the parties had the matter been heard in court. All statutes of limitation that would apply in court shall apply in the arbitration. The arbitrator may award attorney’s fees, arbitration fees and costs to the prevailing party, to the extent authorized by the applicable statutes and which would have been available to the parties had the matter been heard in court.
5. Coordination with PLU Dispute Resolution Procedure. PLU is committed to the internal resolution of disputes arising within the University Community, wherever such resolution is possible. Parties to such disputes are strongly encouraged to utilize the PLU Dispute Resolution Policy and Procedure to resolve all disputes subject to that policy. PLU does not intend this policy to replace the desire to resolve disputes within the University Community. This policy is, however, designed for those disputes where an internal resolution cannot be achieved.
6. Severability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be unenforceable or otherwise invalid for any reason, the remaining provisions of such policy are severable and the unenforceable or invalidity of any single provision of this policy shall not affect the remaining provisions of this policy.