The Working Agreement between the Union and the Company is a legal and binding document that was secured through the collective bargaining system. Like any legal document or set of laws, its meaning is taken for granted until such time as it is challenged. Also, like new state laws that are developed by the legislature, the meaning of such laws are not known until they are challenged and tested in the courts. So it is with the Working Agreement between the Union and the Company.

Our Working Agreement is under constant challenge by either the Union or the Company. Our method of challenge is the arbitration process. This process is not unlike a judicial proceeding that you may find in the courts of the land, except that it is a much less formal procedure. The Company is usually represented by one of its many attorneys, while the Union is usually represented by one of its Council Officers.