ARTICLE 7
TRAINING OF UNION OFFICERS AND STEWARDS

SECTION 1 - GENERAL
It is to the advantage of both Parties if Union officers and
stewards are knowledgeable about applicable laws, rules, and
regulations, and new developments pertaining thereto.
Consequently, Union officers and stewards may be granted
reasonable amounts of excused absence without charge to leave to
attend American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
sponsored training sessions or other training courses which are
available at no cost to the Government, either for tuition or for
travel and per diem.

SECTION 2 - AFGE-SPONSORED TRAINING

A. Delegates to the AFGE meetings/training will be
identified in writing by the Union President.

B. With approval of the Agency, delegates will be granted
excused absence without charge to leave for attendance and travel
with no expenses paid by the Agency.

SECTION 3 - EXCUSED ABSENCES

A. Employees who are officials or stewards of the Union may
be excused without charge to leave for the purpose of attending
training sessions sponsored by the Union, provided that the
subject matter of such training is of mutual concern to the
Agency and the Union.

B. Requests for excused absence to attend a training session
will be submitted for consideration to the Agency. The Union
will provide a summary of the training or an agenda to indicate
that the training session is beneficial to both the Agency and
the Union. Approval of excused absence to attend a training
session will be contingent upon the supervisor's agreement that
the employee may be excused.

SECTION 4 - LIMIT ON TOTAL EXCUSED ABSENCES FOR TRAINING

Each DFAS Center may approve excused absences for training
not to exceed 1,068 hours per calendar year. Should that be
insufficient, the Union President will justify the need for
additional hours to the Labor-Management Committee, which will
make a recommendation to the Principal Deputy Director of the
Center.