ARTICLE 6
UNION RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Section 1 - Union Stewards:
Union Stewards shall be designated by the Union and shall be recognized as employee representatives. Union Stewards shall be employed at the same work area or shift as employees they are designated to represent. When a union steward is transferred by an action of management (not including promotion or transfer at the employee’s request), the steward may continue to act as a steward for his/her former work site for a period not to exceed 45 days from original notification. The Union will supply the Employer with lists of stewards’ names, which shall be posted on appropriate bulletin boards. The Union shall notify the Employer of changes in the roster of Stewards. Stewards are authorized to perform and discharge union duties and responsibilities, which may be assigned to them under the terms of this Agreement.

Section 2 - Performance of Duties:
Stewards shall obtain permission from their immediate supervisors prior to leaving their work assignments to properly and expeditiously carry out their duties during a reasonable amount of official time to be estimated in advance whenever possible. Before attempting to see an employee, the Steward will obtain permission from the employee’s supervisor. Such permission will be granted unless the employee cannot be immediately relieved from his assigned duties, in which case permission will be granted as soon as possible thereafter, if the immediate supervisor is unavailable, permission will be requested from the next highest level of supervision. Requests by Stewards for permission to meet with employees and/or by employees to meet with Stewards will not require prior explanation to the supervisor of the problems involved other than to identify the area to be visited and the general purpose of the visit i.e., grievance investigation, labor-management meetings, negotiation sessions, etc.

A Steward thus engaged will report back to his/her supervisor on completion of such duties and return to their job. The employer agrees that there shall be no restraint, interference, coercion, or discrimination against a Steward in the performance of such duties.

Section 3 - Union Activities on Employer’s Time and Premises:
The Employer agrees that during working hours, on the Employer premises and without loss of pay, in accordance with Article 6 of this Agreement, Union representatives shall be allowed to:

A. Post Union notices on designated Union bulletin boards (with a copy given to the Employer);

B. Attend negotiation meetings;

C. Transmit communications authorized by the District Council and Local Union or its officers to the Employer or his/her representative; and

D. Consult with the Employer or his/her representative, District Coul and Local Union Officers, other Union representatives or employers, concerning the enforcement of any provisions of this Agreement, and other Labor-Management activities. Official time does not include internal Union activities.

E. Solicitation of Union membership and distribution of literature shall be confined to the non-working time of all employees involved and out of sight of the public.

Section 4 - Visits by Union Representatives:
The Employer agrees that representatives of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees whether local, Union representatives, District council representatives, or International representatives shall have full and free access except in secured areas, to the premises of the Employer at any time during working hours to conduct Union business. Advance notification will be given to the appropriate supervisor of the facility to be visited to permit scheduling that will cause minimal disruption of the work activities.

Section 5 - Union Insignia:
The Employer agrees that the employee has a right to participate and identify with the Union as his/her representative in collective bargaining matters; therefore, the Employer agree that such identification devices as emblems, buttons and pins supplied by the Union to the employees within the bargaining unit may be worn on their uniforms, except for uniformed police.

Section 6 - Official Time:
Union representatives who engage in labor management activities during working hours shall indicate on the “Official Time Report” the activity performed. No Union representative will be disadvantaged in the assessment of his/her performance based on use of documented official time while conducting labor management business.