ARTICLE 6

Union Representation

Section 1.

(a)       The total number of Shop Stewards shall be determined by applying a formula of one (1) Shop Steward for every seventy-five (75) employees in the bargaining unit as set forth in Article 2.  The area of the shop which each Shop Steward shall represent for the purpose of adjusting grievances or complaints under Article 7 shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Union.  The number of Shop Stewards assigned to any one Shop Steward area shall not exceed a ratio of one (1) Shop Steward for each fifty (50) bargaining unit employees in that area, subject to the overall limitation of one (1) Shop Steward per seventy-five (75) employees set forth above.  The number of Shop Stewards and the areas which they represent shall be subject to review upon the request of either the Company or the Union.

(b)       Should the number of Shop Stewards exceed the limitations set forth in Section 1(a) above, the Company shall so inform the Union in writing.  The Union shall thereupon promptly notify the Company in writing of the revisions in Shop Steward assignments required by such limitation.  Failure of the Union to so notify the Company within ten (10) days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) shall automatically reduce the number of Shop Stewards to the required level by cancelling Shop Steward appointments on the basis of seniority as defined in Article 8, starting with the least senior Shop Steward.

(c)        In outlying areas where the employee complement would not allow for the recognition of a Shop Steward under the provisions of Section 1(a), of this Article, exceptions may be made if it is mutually agreed by the parties.

Section 2.      The number of Shop Committeepersons shall be five (5) for the bargaining unit as set forth in Article 2, except for cases in which the individual bargaining unit exceeds 2,100, the number of Shop Committeepersons may be increased to a total of six (6).  In the event that the number of bargaining unit employees decreases during the term of office, such additional Shop Committeeperson shall be permitted to complete his or her term of office before being removed.  The Shop Committee shall meet with the Committee of Management as provided in Article 7.

Section 3.      Shop Committeepersons (except the Chairperson) and Shop Stewards shall be active employees of the Company.  No employee shall act as a Shop Committeeperson or Shop Steward unless at the time of his or her selection he or she has not less than six (6) months' seniority as defined in Article 8; provided however, those selected with less than twelve (12) months seniority will not be afforded the provisions of Article 8, Section 15 until they attain twelve (12) months seniority.

             The six (6) month seniority requirement shall not apply in those cases where the employee selected to be a Shop Committeeperson or Shop Steward previously held one of these positions within District 26.

Section 4.      The Union shall furnish the Company with a list of its officers, Shop Committee members, and Shop Stewards, and shall as soon as possible notify the Company of any changes therein.  No officer, Committeeperson, or Shop Steward shall be recognized by the Company until such written notification of his or her appointment shall have been received by the Company from a duly authorized officer of the Union.  Subject to the limitations of this Article, the Company shall recognize Shop Steward appointments within five (5) days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays) after receipt of notification from the Union.

Section 5.      The Company will provide Company badges for entrance into the plants and facilities to the Directing Business Representative, the Assistant Directing Business Representative, Business Representatives of District 26, the Grand Lodge Representative and full-time officers of local Unions which represent employees covered under Article 2.  The Union Representatives stated above will have access to the plants and facilities to address specific problems at the request of the Directing Business Representative or his or her designee and concurrence of the Company.  However, none of these visits to the Company's plants or facilities will result in a meeting with any employee who is clocked in on Company time, except by mutual agreement of the Company and Union.