Steward Reimbursment Policy

OPEIU Local 8 Shop Steward Dues Reimbursement Policy

Effective January 1, 2001, all OPEIU Local 8 Shop Stewards must participate in at least one OPEIU-sponsored Shop Steward Training segment per year in order to receive the yearly dues rebate.

Stewards must request their dues reimbursement in writing between December 1, and January 31 of each year for the preceding year.
If a Steward has not held the position for an entire year, but has attended and signed in at the required number of meetings and trainings, the Steward may receive a refund for up to a maximum of the number of months they have been a Steward, not to exceed nine (9) months.
Stewards must sign in on the Union sign in sheet at each of the required meetings or training segments attended (as described in the paragraphs below) in order to receive reimbursement. Failure to sign in will result in that particular meeting or training not being counted towards the required total.
King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties - Stewards whose workplaces are in these counties and are not more than 50 miles from the Labor Temple shall be reimbursed for the number of months they have been a Steward up to a maximum of their last nine (9) months of Union dues paid, if they attend.

a. Five (5) or more General Membership meetings and one (1) or more OPEIU sponsored Shop Steward Training segments, or

b. Four (4) or more General Membership meetings and two (2) or more OPEIU sponsored Shop Steward Training segments.
King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties - Stewards whose workplaces are in these counties and are more than 50 miles from the Labor Temple shall be reimbursed for the number of months they have been a steward up to a maximum of their last nine (9) months of Union dues paid, if they attend:

a. Three (3) or more General Membership meetings and one (1) or more OPEIU sponsored Shop Steward Training segments, or

b. Two (2) or more General Membership meetings and two (2) or more OPEIU sponsored Shop Steward Training segments.
Stewards whose workplaces are outside of King, Snohomish and Pierce Counties, shall be reimbursed for the number of months they have been a Steward up to a maximum of their last nine (9) months of Union dues reimbursed due to their geographic locations if they complete one (1) Shop Steward Training segment.
EXCEPTION: Effective December 1, 2005, the only exception to this policy is if a Steward is unable to attend the final Membership Meeting and/or Steward Training of the year because of a catastrophic event such as a death in the immediate family or a life threatening illness and the inability to attend the Meeting or Training would make the Steward ineligible to receive dues reimbursement. The Steward must submit the request for an exception in writing to the Executive Board along with the request for dues reimbursement and must follow the same timelines as described in this policy. The Executive Board shall make the final decision on any such requests for exceptions.
Chief Shop Stewards who request dues reimbursement in accordance with the timelines set forth in this Policy, shall have up to nine (9) months of dues reimbursed provided the following requirements have been met.

Attend at least three (3) Steward Training segments each year.
Submit an article to the Local 8 Newsletter at least one time each year.
Hold at least two meetings scheduled at times to ensure maximum participation with bargaining unit Stewards each year.

Revised M/S/C by Executive Board December 14, 2005
Revised M/S/C by General Membership January 25, 2006
Revised M/S/C by Executive Board July 11, 2007
Revised M/S/C by General Membership September 26, 2007