Section 35.1

Section 35.1 Programs

1. The Employer and the Union express strong support for programs of self-help. The Employer shall provide and maintain a program which shall encompass the education, identification, referral, guidance and follow-up of those employees afflicted by the dis- ease of Alcoholism and/or Drug Abuse. When an employee is referred to EAP by the Employer, the EAP counselor will have a reasonable period of time to evaluate the employee's progress in the program. The parties will meet at the national level at least once every 6 months to discuss existing and new programs. This program of labor-management cooperation shall support the continuation of the EAP Program, at the current level. In addition, the Employer will give full consideration to expansion of the EAP Program where warranted.
2. An employee's voluntary participation in such programs will be considered favorably in disciplinary action proceedings.
3. In offices having EAP Programs the status and progress of the program, including improving methods for identifying alcohol- ism and drug abuse at its early stages and encouraging employees to obtain treatment without delay, will be proper agenda items for discussion at the local regularly scheduled Labor-Management Committee meetings as provided for in Article 38. Such discussion shall not breach the confidentiality of EAP participants.