PROMOTION AND TRANSFER 9:1 Employees may file requests, in writing, for promotion to the Working Xxxxxxx classification or for a Employees may file requests, in writing, for promotion to the Working Xxxxxxx classification or for a transfer to a new location in their present classification with the Office of the Company. Whenever a vacancy occurs, the Company will, before filling such vacancy, first give consideration to such requests and the following factors being sufficient give preference on the basis of seniority. (a) Company shall give consideration to applications for promotion and transfer to vacancies on the basis of seniority, ability, licenses, disciplinary history within the previous nine (9) months and qualifications. 9:2 Requests for promotion or transfer shall expire at the end of six (6) months from the time of receipt by Company unless the Company has within the six (6) month period, received a request for extension. If such request for promotion or transfer is offered and the employee refuses, the request becomes null and void and he/she shall resubmit his/her request no sooner than six (6) months after the original request. 9:3 Company may either promote a lower classification or transfer an employee in the same classification, if a job is not filled under Section 9:1. 9:4 Whenever a temporary vacancy occurs in any job classification, the Company may fill it by appointment. If practicable, the Company shall fill such vacancy with the senior qualified employee in the next lower classification within the headquarters. Temporary vacancies shall be those vacancies caused by the absence of an employee due to industrial injury, leave of absence, vacation or sick leave and additional jobs which the Company contemplates will be of ninety (90) days’ duration or less. 9:5 Whenever the Company establishes a new headquarters or additional crews, employees within that geographical division shall be notified a sufficient time in advance to enable them to file a request for transfer or promotion to the new headquarters or crew. The Supervisor in the geographical area will notify the area Business Representative of new crew locations. 9:6 Employees who accept a promotion to a new headquarters will indicate in writing that he understands that acceptance of the promotion establishes him in a new permanent headquarters without lodging.