ARTICLE 85
DUTIES OF GENERAL COMMITTEES OF ADJUSTMENT
1		General Committees of Adjustment shall have authority to make
2	and interpret agreements with representatives of transportation
3	companies covering rates of pay, rules, or working conditions - subject
4	to membership ratification in accordance with the provisions of this
5	Article.
6		General Committees shall investigate all matters properly submitted
7	to them and shall have the authority to alter, amend, add to, or strike
8	out any part, or all, of any matter submitted to them.
9		In the event a matter cannot be satisfactorily adjusted, the General
10	Chairperson may request the assistance of the International President.
11	Upon receipt of such request, the International President or his/her
12	representative shall meet with the General Chairperson, renew efforts
13	to obtain a satisfactory adjustment of the matter and shall be vested
14	with the same authority held by the General Committee to progress the
15	matter to a conclusion. Any system or local adjustments agreed to by
16	the International President or his/her representatives, shall be subject
17	to a majority vote of local chairpersons affected.
18		In the event the International President or his/her representative
19	and the Committee are unable to reach a satisfactory adjustment of the
20	matter, the International President may order a strike on all or any
21	portion of the company involved. Such strike action must be authorized
22	by a two-thirds vote of the members of the General Committee. Such
23	vote may be taken by wire, mail, or personal contact with written
24	confirmation as the General Chairperson may direct.
25		Between sessions of the General Committee of Adjustment, the
26	Chairperson of such Committee shall exercise all rights, privileges, and
27	authority vested in the General Committee, except as otherwise
28	directed by the General Committee while in session, subject to the
29	membership ratification provisions of this Article.
30		The General Chairperson must poll the entire membership holding


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31	seniority and working in the craft involved on the property by mail
32	referendum ballot prior to signing any system agreements and be
33	governed by the majority of the votes cast.
34		Upon completion of the balloting for a system agreement, the
35	General Chairperson will prepare a report designating the result of the
36	vote. A copy of the report shall be submitted to each affected Local
37	within 30 days after the close of balloting.
38		The General Chairperson must poll the affected Local Chairpersons
39	prior to signing any Local agreement and be governed by the majority
40	of the votes cast.
41		Upon completion of the balloting for a Local agreement, the
42	General Chairperson will prepare a report designating the result of the
43	vote of each Local Committee. A copy of the report shall be submitted
44	to each affected Local within thirty (30) days after the close of the
45 	balloting.
46		A General Committee may elect from its members a subcommittee
47	and vest such committee with authority of the General Committee of
48	Adjustment to adjust such matters as may be assigned to it by the
49	General Committee. The Chairperson of the General Committee shall
so	be Chairperson of all such sub-committees.
51		General Committees or sub-committees of General Committees of
52	Adjustment making settlement of matters referred to them shall, within
53	thirty (30) days of such settlement, notify the interested Local
54	Chairpersons and Secretary of the locals in which the matters originated
55	of the action taken.
56		Actions or decisions of a General Committee shall be binding upon
57	the members and locals under the jurisdiction of such General
58	Committee unless reversed or modified upon appeal as provided in
59	Article 75 of this Constitution.
		   (NOTE:   Delegates moved that this Article 85 would be
				interpreted that a UTU Engineer working under a
				BLE agreement would vote as a fireman on any
				agreement involving firemen.)