ARTICLE 25

Employee Assistance Program

Section 1.      The Company and the Union agree to cooperate in encouraging employees suffering from the illness of alcoholism or from drug dependency to seek help from the Employee Assistance Program and undergo a coordinated program directed to their rehabilitation.

Section 2.      It is agreed the Company and the Union will recognize the District 26 Senior Union EAP Coordinator who will serve as the bargaining unit coordinator for EAP services. The Company and the Union will also recognize one Union EAP Coordinator from each Local Lodge affiliated with District 26 covered by this Agreement for the purpose of discussion and consultation with the Manager, Union Relations regarding items of mutual concern. 

Section 3.

(a)               The parties agree that in order to advance the goals of this program that there will be regularly scheduled meetings between the Local Lodge EAP Coordinators and the Senior Union EAP Coordinator.  Local Lodge EAP Coordinators who must absence themselves from work for attendance at such meetings will be paid at their regular base hourly rate, plus cost-in-living allowance and shift premium, if any, up to four (4) hours per month.

(b)               Each Union EAP Coordinator, shall, after notice to and permission from the supervisor, be allowed to leave his or her job to attend meetings with the Manager, Union Relations or the District 26  Senior Union EAP Coordinator at a time mutually agreed upon.  These meetings may include the Union EAP Coordinator's participation in the counseling of employees he or she has referred to the Employee Assistance Program, providing the employee requests and gives permission to have the Union EAP Coordinator present at such counseling sessions. Time spent in attendance at such meetings during scheduled work hours shall be recorded and paid for, not exceeding four (4) hours in any workweek.  The Company and the Union recognize the sensitivity and confidentiality of the information concerning employees seeking assistance and agree to protect those rights afforded all employees for privacy and confidentiality of all information regarding their treatment.

Section 4.      In the event that the District 26 Senior Union EAP Coordinator and/or the Local Lodge EAP Coordinator holds a valid Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) Certificate, such Coordinator will be authorized to make specific recommendations for the treatment of the Company’s employees who seek assistance.  Both the Company and the Union recognize an EAP Coordinator, who holds a valid CEAP certificate, is qualified to make those recommendations and urge those employees who seek assistance to follow them.

Section 5.      In the event of a positive drug or alcohol test for any employee in the FAA/DOT drug testing pool, such findings shall be reviewed per the Company’s prevailing FAA Drug Testing Program.  On the first occasion, and with the employee’s permission, he or she will be referred to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling.  Such notification will be made to the District 26 Senior Union EAP Coordinator as soon as practicable.

Section 6.      As employees of Pratt & Whitney, Hamilton Sundstrand or UTC Fuel Cells, LLC, the Senior Union EAP Coordinator and as employees of Pratt & Whitney, each Local Lodge Union EAP Coordinator will be indemnified by United Technologies Corporation when acting lawfully; in the scope of his or her employment; in good faith; and in a manner he or she reasonably believes to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation.