ARTICLE 4.
STEWARDS

The Employer shall give one (1) job steward, during his regular working hours or if outside his regular working hours his/her designated alternate, an opportunity to participate in the Employer’s orientation of new employees, or the right to meet with new employees during their workday to inform them of the benefits of Union representation without loss of time or pay.

The Employer shall have the sole right to schedule the time and place for such participation so as not to interfere with the Employer’s operation.

The Employer recognizes the right of the Local Union to designate job stewards and alternates from the Employer’s seniority list.  The authority of job stewards and alternates so designated by the Local Union shall be limited to, and shall not exceed, the following duties and activities:

  (a) The investigation and presentation of grievances with his/her Employer or the designated company representative in accordance with the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement;

  (b) The collection of dues when authorized by appropriate Local Union action;

  (c) The transmission of such messages and information, which shall originate with and are authorized by the Local Union or its officers, provided such message and information;

  (1) have been reduced to writing; or,

  (2) if not reduced to writing, are of a routine nature and do not involve work stoppages, slowdowns, refusal to handle goods, or any other interference with the Employer’s business.

Unless waived in writing, there shall be a steward or available bargaining unit member of the employee’s choice present whenever the Employer meets with the employee about grievances or discipline or to conduct investigatory interviews.  If a steward is unavailable, the employee may designate a bargaining unit member who is available at the terminal at the time of the meeting to represent him/her.  Meetings or interviews shall not begin until the steward or designated bargaining unit member is present.  An employee who does not want a Union steward or available bargaining unit member present at any meeting or interview where the employee has a right to Union representation must waive Union representation in writing.  If the Union requests a copy of the waiver, the Employer shall promptly furnish it.

Job stewards and alternates have no authority to take strike action, or any other action interrupting the Employer’s business, except as authorized by official action of the Local Union.  The Employer recognizes these limitations upon the authority of job stewards and their alternates, and shall not hold the Local Union liable for any unauthorized acts.  The Employer in so recognizing such limitations shall have the authority to impose proper discipline, including discharge, in the event the job steward or his/her designated alternate has taken unauthorized strike action, slowdown or work stoppage in violation of this Agreement.

The job steward, or his/her designated alternate, shall be permitted reasonable time to investigate, present and process grievances on the company property without loss of time or pay during his/her regular working hours without interruption of the Employer’s operation by calling group meetings; and where mutually agreed to by the Local Union and the Employer, off the property or other than during his/her regular schedule without loss of time or pay.  Such time spent in handling grievances during the job steward’s or his/her designated alternate’s regular working hours shall be considered working hours in computing daily and/or weekly overtime if within the regular schedule of the “job steward.”

The job steward, or his/her designated alternate, shall be permitted reasonable time off without pay to attend Union meetings called by the Local Union.  The Employer shall be given twenty-four (24) hours’ prior notice by the Local Union.