Body B Introduction CIM v5 2021

The parties agree that the CIM will be made available to their representatives who are responsible for handling disputes at the Local and Area/Regional levels and for processing grievances at Steps 1, 2 and 3 of the grievance-arbitration procedure in an effort to reach resolution regarding issues about which the parties are in agreement and to assure consistency and compliance with the terms of the National Agreement. The parties’ agreement in this regard is designed to facilitate the resolution of grievances and to reduce grievance backlogs. Contract interpretations set forth in the CIM may be cited and, if cited, shall be applied to all pending and future cases at Steps 1, 2 and 3 of the grievance procedure, and in Regional arbitration; this includes cases initiated prior to the issuance of the CIM to the extent that the specific contractual or handbook/manual language interpreted in the CIM was in effect at the time the case was initiated and has not subsequently been changed.