AUTHORIZED ASSOCIATION ABSENCES

5.1                        Authorized representatives of the Association shall be released to attend non-District meetings relevant to the Association's functions as bargaining agent.  A day shall be defined for tenured and probationary faculty as any duty day and for hourly faculty as any day when they have assigned classes.  Such days will not count against a faculty member’s leave bank.

5.2                        Such absences shall be at no cost to the District. If substitutes are required, the Association shall be responsible for compensation, and such substitutes shall be selected through normal District procedures.

5.3                             Under normal circumstances requests shall be processed through the usual administrative channels and shall be submitted at least one week prior to the date of the proposed absence.  If adequate substitutes have been arranged by the department chair or appropriate academic administrator, the request may be submitted one day prior to the proposed absence.