IX.       FAMILIARIZATION

A.        Employees will not be required to lose time or "ride the road" on their own time in order to qualify for the new operations. Employees taking familiarization trips shall be compensated at the rate of the trip taken or their regular assignment, whichever is greater. Employees will be provided with a sufficient number of familiarization trips in order to become familiar with the new territory. Issues concerning individual qualifications shall be handled on a local basis. The parties recognize that different terrain and train tonnage impact the number of trips necessary and Carrier officers and local UTU officials will work together to implement this section.

B.       Prior to implementation, Carrier may begin familiarization trips, where necessary, to "pre-qualify" employees. Likewise, the Carrier may bulletin and assign employees prior to implementation so employees will be in place on implementation day.