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The problems of time delay, costs and legalism in grievance arbitration are interrelated. Previous studies, as well as new data from the Province of Alberta, show that delays are increasing and that the average grievance that ultimately is resolved through arbitration takes a year to proceed from its origin to the arbitrator's award. Factors associated with time delay include the use of 3-person boards (as opposed to sole arbitrators), the sector (public or private), and the type of issue. The most obvious way to save time without a drastic overhaul of the system is to use sole arbitrators more frequently. In order to reduce the length of the process, it is useful to break the process into 4 distinct phases: 1. the grievance procedure stage, 2. the arbitrator selection stage, 3. the scheduling stage, and 4. the decision stage. The first and last stages need not be tampered with; however, refinements in the arbitrator selection and scheduling stages must be addressed.