The Stewards and/or Officers shall be permitted reasonable time during working hours to investigate and process grievances raised by bargaining unit members and to represent members in disciplinary actions brought by management. Stewards and officers shall be permitted to leave their regular work area to investigate or process a grievance or provide representation in disciplinary matters, provided, however, that no more than two representatives, apart from those on full-time release, shall be released for any given matter unless otherwise agreed by the Division Head. The Stewards and officers shall notify their immediate supervisors that they are leaving their jobs to handle a problem and shall report when returning to work utilizing the designated form.
Union officers shall also be permitted reasonable time to conduct other necessary union business during working hours.
It is the intent of the parties that Union release time will be utilized in the manner that will least interfere with City operations.
Current practice will not be used as a standard of interpretation in the administration of this section.