Article 17 Representation

Article 17 Representation

Section 17.1 Stewards

Stewards may be designated for the purpose of investigating, presenting and adjusting grievances.

Section 17.2 Appointment of Stewards

1. The Union will certify to the Employer in writing a steward or stewards and alternates in accordance with the following general guidelines. Where more than one steward is appointed, one shall be designated chief steward. The selection and appointment of stewards or chief stewards is the sole and exclusive function of the Union. Stewards will be certified to represent employees in specific work location(s) on their tour; provided no more than one steward may be certified to represent employees in a particular work location(s). The number of stewards shall be in accordance with the formula as hereinafter set forth: Employees in the bargaining unit per tour or station
   

   At each installation, the Union may certify one representative employed at that installation to represent employees in all work locations and on all tours in complaints involving issues of general application in that installation. Such complaints involve tour- wide and/or installation-wide issues, including, but not limited to, local policy issues and Acts of God. The activities of such Union representative shall be in lieu of a steward designated under the formula above and shall be in accordance with Section 17.3. Payment, when applicable, shall be in accordance with Section 17.4.

2. At an installation, the Union may designate in writing to the Employer one Union representative actively employed at that installation to act as a steward to investigate, present and adjust a specific grievance or to investigate a specific problem to determine whether to file a grievance. The activities of such Union representative shall be in lieu of a steward designated under the formula in Section 2A and shall be in accordance with Section 17.3. Payment, when applicable, shall be in accordance with Section 17.4.
3. To provide steward service to a number of small installations where a steward is not provided by the above formula, the Union representative certified to the Employer in writing and compensated by the Union may perform the duties of a steward.
4. At the option of the Union, representatives not on the Employer's payroll shall be entitled to perform the functions of a steward or chief steward, provided such representatives are certified in writing to the Employer at the District level, with a courtesy copy to the Area, and providing such representatives act in lieu of stewards designated under the provisions of 2A or 2B above.

Section 17.3 Rights of Stewards

1. When it is necessary for a steward to leave his/her work area to investigate and adjust grievances or to investigate a specific problem to determine whether to file a grievance, the steward shall request permission from the immediate supervisor and such request shall not be unreasonably denied. In the event the duties require the steward leave the work area and enter another area within the installation or post office, the steward must also receive permission from the supervisor from the other area he/she wishes to enter and such request shall not be unreasonably denied.
2. The steward, chief steward or other Union representative properly certified in accordance with Section 17.2 above may request and shall obtain access through the appropriate supervisor to review the documents, files and other records necessary for processing a grievance or determining if a grievance exists and shall have the right to interview the aggrieved employee(s), supervisors and witnesses during working hours. Such requests shall not be unreasonably denied.
3. While serving as a steward or chief steward, an employee may not be involuntarily transferred to another tour, to another station or branch of the particular post office or to another independent post office or installation unless there is no job for which the employee is qualified on such tour, or in such station or branch, or post office. If an employee requests a steward or Union representative to be present during the course of an interrogation by the Inspection Service, such request will be granted. All polygraph tests will continue to be on a voluntary basis.

Section 17.4 Payment of Stewards

1. The Employer will authorize payment only under the following conditions: Grievances: Steps 1 and 2 The aggrieved and one Union steward (only as permitted under the formula in Section .2A) for time actually spent in grievance handling, including investigation and meetings with the Employer. The Employer will also compensate a steward for the time reasonably necessary to write a grievance. In addition, the Employer will compensate any witnesses for the time required to attend a Step 2 meeting. Meetings called by the Employer for information exchange and other conditions designated by the Employer concerning contract application.
2. Employer authorized payment as outlined above will be granted at the applicable straight time rate, providing the time spent is a part of the employee's or steward's (only as provided for under the formula in Section 2A) regular work day.

Section 17.5 Union Participation in New Employee Orientation

During the course of any employment orientation program for new career or non-career employees covered by this Agreement, or in the event a current postal employee is reassigned or transfers to the mail handler craft, a representative of the Union representing the craft to which the new or cur- rent employees are assigned shall be provided ample opportunity to address such new employees, provided that this provision does not preclude the Employer from addressing employees concerning the same subject. In addition, at the time any non-career employees covered by this Agreement become eligible for health insurance, the Union will be provided ample opportunity to address such employees on this subject.

Health benefit enrollment information and forms will not be provided during orientation until such time as a representative of the Union has had an opportunity to address such new employees.

Section 17.6 Checkoff

1. In conformity with Section 2 of the Act, 39 U.S.C. 1205, without cost to the Union, the Employer shall deduct and remit to the Union the regular and periodic Union dues from the pay of employees who are members of such Union, provided that the Employer has received a written assignment which shall be irrevocable for a period of not more than one year, from each employee on whose account such deductions are to be made. The Employer agrees to remit to the Union all deductions to which it is entitled within fourteen (14) days after the end of the pay period for which such deductions are made. Deductions shall be in such amounts as are designated to the Employer in writing by the Union.
2. The authorization of such deductions shall be in the following form:

Union Dues Authorization Form



Local Dues Form



3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, employees' dues deduction authorizations (Standard Form 1187) which are presently on file with the Employer on behalf of the Union, shall continue to be honored and given full force and effect by the Employer unless and until revoked in accordance with their terms.
4. The Employer agrees that it will continue in effect, but without cost to employees, its existing program of payroll deductions at the request and on behalf of employees for remittance to financial institutions including credit unions. In addition, the Employer agrees without cost to the employee to make payroll deductions on behalf of such organization or organizations as the Union shall designate to receive funds to provide group automobile insurance for employees and/or homeowners/tenant liability insurance for employees, provided only one insurance carrier is selected to provide such coverage.

(The preceding Sections, Articles 17.2, 17.3, 17.4, 17.5 and 17.6, shall apply to Mail Handler Assistant employees.)

[See Memo, page 195]