Section One. Employer representatives shall deal exclusively with designated stewards or representatives in the processing of grievances or any other aspect of contract administration.

Section Two. The Union may designate up to forty four (44) bargaining unit employees to serve as stewards. The Union will furnish the State employer with a list of such stewards, specifying the jurisdiction of each and shall keep the list current.

Up to ten (10) stewards may be designated by the Union as stewards of general jurisdiction.

Section Three. Access to Premises. Union staff representatives and/or stewards within their assigned jurisdiction, shall be permitted to enter the facilities of an agency at any reasonable time for the purposes of discussing, processing or investigating filed grievances, or fulfilling its role as collective bargaining agent, provided that they give notice prior to arrival, or if that is not possible, provided that they immediately give notice of their presence to the supervisor in charge and do not interfere with the performance of duties. The Union will furnish the State employer with a list of its staff personnel and their jurisdictions, and shall keep the list current.

Section Four. Role of Steward in Processing Grievances. The stewards will obtain permission from their immediate supervisors when they desire to leave their work assignments to properly and expeditiously carry out their duties in connection with this Agreement. When contacting an employee, the steward will first report to and obtain permission to see the employee from his/her supervisor, and such permission will be granted unless the work situation or an emergency demands otherwise. If the immediate supervisor is unavailable, permission will be requested from the next level of supervision. Requests by stewards to meet with employees and/or employees to meet with stewards will state the name of the employee involved, his location, indicating that Union business is to be discussed, and the approximate time that will be needed. Stewards thus engaged will report back to their supervisors on completion of such duties and return to their job and will suffer no loss of pay or other benefits as a result thereof. The sufficiency of steward coverage shall be a subject of continuing consultation between the employer and the Union. The Union will cooperate in preventing abuse of this Section.

Section Five. Bulletin Board. The State will continue to furnish reasonable bulletin board space in each institution which the Union may utilize for its announcements. Bulletin board space shall not be used for material that is of a partisan political nature or is inflammatory, or derogatory to the State employer or any of its officers or employees. The Union shall limit its posting of notices and bulletins to such bulletin board space.

Section Six. Access to Information. The employer agrees to provide the Union, upon request and adequate notice, access to materials and information necessary for the Union to fulfill its statutory responsibility to administer this Agreement. The Union shall reimburse the State for photocopying expense at rates endorsed by the State Freedom of Information Law. The Union shall not have access to privileged or confidential information.

Section Seven. (a) Union Business Leave. The Union shall be entitled to up to 680 hours of paid leave per contract year for Union officials, delegates, stewards or other representatives to attend Union business-related meetings, conventions, training programs, meetings of national affiliates or other affiliates organizations, legislative or agency hearings. The Union shall notify the State Office of Labor Relations of the names, agencies, dates and number of hours when employees are to be released for such Union business, normally at least seventy-two (72) hours in advance. Such release time shall be granted; the Union agrees not to unduly deplete agency operations. If notice of release is received less than seventy two (72) hours in advance, the leave may be denied if the absence will unduly hinder minimum operating needs. Time off shall be deducted from the bank of hours. Up to eighty (80) hours may be carried over to the next contract year and added to that Union business leave bank of hours. Said bank shall expire at the end of the contract.

(b) No more than two (2) employees elected or appointed to a full-time office or position with the Union or a National Affiliate will be eligible for an unpaid leave of absence not to exceed one (l) year. An extension not to exceed one (l) additional year may be granted, subject to the approval of the Director of Labor Relations. Upon return from such leave, the State employer shall offer said employee a position relatively equal to the former position in pay, benefits, and duties, at the rates in force at time of return from such leave.

Upon return from leave, the employee shall have the right to purchase back retirement credits for the period of the leave, provided that, in addition, the employee or the Union contribute the State’s share of the cost of such retirement credits.

(c) The Union President shall be eligible for full-time paid leave. The employer shall pay said employee's full salary and benefits subject to reimbursement as follows:

(1) Cash Reimbursement by the Union to the State of Connecticut seventy (70) percent of the cost of wages and benefits of said employee paid on a bi-weekly basis.

(2) This Section Seven (c) shall expire June 30, 2004.

Section Eight. Both the employer and the Union agree that every bargaining unit member should be familiar with the provisions of this Agreement and his/her rights and duties under it. For this reason, the parties will print the Agreement and give one (l) copy to each bargaining unit employee. The parties will share the cost of printing the Agreement in booklet form. The State employer will provide each new employee with a copy of the collective bargaining agreement then in force and will furnish said employee with the name(s) of his/her steward(s).

Section Nine. Use of Facilities. The Union shall be permitted use of the Connecticut Police Academy auditorium and/or classrooms for meetings, subject to its availability. The Union shall reimburse the State for any incidental costs incurred by such use. Use of facilities under this Section shall not be unfairly denied.

Section Ten. Wherever feasible, stewards shall not be assigned work loads during Union business leave or steward leave.

Section Eleven. Stewards not to exceed forty-four (44) in number, who have permanent status in State service, shall be deemed to have the highest seniority within their job classification for purpose of layoff selection and involuntary transfer.

Section Twelve. Stewards assigned State vehicles shall retain the right to use their vehicle on steward business. To the extent practicable, employees who are assigned State vehicles shall retain the right to use their assigned vehicles to and from Union meetings, hearings, and training sessions, provided such activities directly precede or follow the Employee’s work schedule.

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