Exclusive Representation The Employer shall not enter into any agreements with the employees covered by this Agreement either individually or collectively or with any other employee organization which in any way conflicts with the terms and provisions of this Agreement. Further, the Employer shall meet and negotiate, pursue the resolution of grievances and conduct arbitration proceedings only with the properly designated representative(s) of the Union.
Grievance Representation (A) An employee who decides to use this grievance procedure shall indicate at Step 1 (or other initial written step as authorized by the provisions of this Article) whether he shall be represented by the Union. If a grievant selects a Union Grievance Representative to represent him in a grievance which has been properly filed in accordance with this Article, the Union Grievance Representative may be allowed a reasonable amount of annual leave to investigate the grievance. Such annual leave shall be subject to prior approval by the Union Grievance Representative’s immediate supervisor; however, approval of such leave will not be withheld if the Union Grievance Representative can be allowed such time off without interfering with, or unduly hampering the operations of the unit to which the Union Grievance Representative is regularly assigned. When a grievant has elected Union representation, both the grievant and the Union Grievance Representative shall be notified of a Step 1 meeting. Written communication concerning the grievance or its resolution shall be sent to the grievant and the Union Grievance Representative, and the decision agreed to by the state and the Union shall be binding on the grievant. (B) If the employee is not represented by the Union, an adjustment of the grievance shall be consistent with the terms of this collective bargaining Agreement. The Union shall be given reasonable opportunity to be present at a meeting called for the resolution of such grievance. A grievant using this procedure in the processing of a grievance will be bound by the procedure established by the parties to the Agreement. (C) The Executive Director of the Union shall furnish to the state a list of Union Representatives and the state will not recognize a person as a Union Representative whose name does not appear on the list. (D) If a grievance meeting, mediation, or arbitration hearing is held or requires reasonable travel time during the work hours of grievant, a representative of the grievant, or any required witnesses, such hours shall be deemed time worked. Attendance at grievance meetings, mediation, or arbitration hearings outside of a participant’s regular work hours shall not be deemed time worked. The state will not pay the expenses of participants attending such meetings on behalf of the Union.