Part 18

4. Basis and term of representation.

Representatives of employees in each camp shall be on the basis of one representative to every one hundred and fifty wage-earners, but each camp, whatever its number of employees, shall be entitled to at least two representatives. Where the number of employees in any one camp exceeds one hundred and fifty, or any multiple thereof, by seventy-five or more, an additional representative shall be elected. The persons elected shall act as the employees’ representatives from the time of their election until the next annual meeting, unless in the interval other representatives may, as above provided, have been elected to take their places.

5. Nomination and election of representatives.

To facilitate the nomination and election of employees’ representatives, and to insure freedom of choice, both nomination and election shall be by secret ballot, under conditions calculated to insure an impartial count. The company shall provide ballot boxes and blank ballots, differing in form, for purposes of nomination and election. Upon entering the meeting, each employee entitled to be present shall be given a nomination ballot on which he shall write the names of the persons whom he desires to nominate as representatives, and deposit the nomination ballot in the ballot box. Each employee may nominate representatives to the number to which the camp is entitled, and of which public notice has been given. Employees unable to write may ask any of their fellow employees to write for them on their ballots the names of the persons whom they desire to nominate; but in the event of any nomination paper containing more names than the number of representatives to which the camp is entitled, the paper shall not be counted. The persons--to the number of twice as many representatives as the camp is entitled to--receiving the highest number of nomination votes shall be regarded as the duly nominated candidates for employees’ representatives, and shall be voted upon as hereinafter provided. (For example: If a camp is entitled to two representatives, the four persons receiving the largest number of nominating votes shall be regarded as the duly nominated candidates. If the camp is entitled to three representatives, then the six persons receiving the largest number, etc.)

6. Counting of nomination and election ballots.

The chairman shall appoint three tellers, who shall take charge of the ballot box containing the nomination votes, and, with the aid of the secretary, they shall make out the list of the duly nominated candidates, which shall be announced by the chairman. The meeting shall then proceed to elect representatives by secret ballot, from among the number of candidates announced, the same tellers having charge of the balloting. If dissatisfied with the count, either as respects the nomination or election, any twenty-five employees present may demand a recount, and for the purposes of the recount the chairman shall select as tellers three from the number of those demanding a recount, and himself assist in the counting, and these four shall act, in making the recount, in place of the secretary and the tellers previously chosen. There shall be no appeal from this recount, except to the president of the company, and such appeal may be taken as hereinafter provided, at the request of any twenty-five employees present and entitled to vote.

7. Appeal in regard to nomination or election.

The chairman of the meeting shall preserve for a period of one week both the nomination and election ballots. Should an appeal be made to the president within seven days in regard to the validity of the nomination or election, upon request in writing signed by twenty-five employees present at the meeting, the chairman shall deliver the ballots to the president of the company for recount. Should no such request be received within that time, the chairman shall destroy the ballots. If after considering the appeal the president is of the opinion that the nomination or election has not been fairly conducted, he shall order a new election at a time and place to be designated by him.

8. General proceedings at meetings.

At annual meetings for the election of representatives, employees may consider and make recommendations concerning any matters pertaining to their employment, working or living conditions, or arising out of existing industrial relations, including such as they may desire to have their representatives discuss with the president and officers of the company at the Annual Joint Conference of the company’s officers and employees, also any matters referred to them by the president, other officers of the company, the Advisory Board or Social Joint Committee appointed at the preceding annual joint conferences of officials and employees of the company. A record of the proceedings shall be made by the secretary of the meeting and certified to by the chairman, and copies delivered to each of the representatives, to be retained by them for purposes of future reference.

DISTRICT CONFERENCES, JOINT COMMITTEES AND JOINT MEETINGS

1. District divisions.

To facilitate the purposes herein set forth, the camps of the company shall be divided into five or more districts, as follows: the Trinidad District, comprising all mines and coke oven plants in Las Animas County; the Walsenburg District, comprising all mines in Huerfano County; the Cañon District, comprising all mines in Fremont County; the Western District, comprising all mines and coke oven plants located on the Western Slope; the Sunrise District, comprising the iron mines located in Wyoming.

2. Time, place and purpose of district conferences.

District conferences shall be held in each of the several districts above mentioned at the call of the president, at places to be designated by him, not later than two weeks following the annual election of representatives, and at intervals of not more than four months thereafter, as the operating officers of the company, or a majority of the representatives of the employees in each of the several districts, may find desirable. The purpose of these district conferences shall be to discuss freely matters of mutual interest and concern to the company and its employees, embracing a consideration of suggestions to promote increased efficiency and production, to improve working and living conditions, to enforce discipline, avoid friction, and to further friendly and cordial relations between the company’s officers and employees.

3. Representation at district conferences.

At the district conferences the company shall be represented by its president or his representative and such other officials as the president may designate. The employees shall be represented by their elected representatives. The company’s representatives shall not exceed in number the representatives of the employees. The company shall provide at its own expense appropriate places of meeting for the conferences.

4. Proceedings of district conferences.

The district conferences shall be presided over by the president of the company, or such executive officer as he may designate. Each conference shall select a secretary who shall record its proceedings. The record of proceedings shall be certified to by the presiding officer.

5. Joint committees on industrial relations.

The first district conferences held in each year shall select the following joint committees on industrial relations for each district, which joint committees shall be regarded as permanent committees to be intrusted with such duties as are herein set forth, or as may be assigned by the conferences. These joint committees shall be available for consultation at any time throughout the year with the Advisory Board on Social and Industrial Betterment, the president, the president’s executive assistant, or any officer of the operating department of the company.

(a) Joint Committee on Industrial Coöperation and Conciliation: to be composed of six members.

(b) Joint Committee on Safety and Accidents: to be composed of six members.

(c) Joint Committee on Sanitation, Health and Housing: to be composed of six members.

(d) Joint Committee on Recreation and Education: to be composed of six members.

6. Selection and composition of joint committees.

In selecting the members of the several joint committees on industrial relations, the employees’ representatives shall, as respects each committee, designate three members and the president of the company or his representative, three members.

7. Duties of Joint Committee on Industrial Coöperation and Conciliation.