2.3 The parties agree that the Company may continue to (a) contract out work heretofore customarily or historically contracted out (B) return equipment parts or assemblies to the manufacturer or to a manufacturer - approved repair station for repair or replacement, © contract out work when the Company’s facilities and equipment are not sufficient, or qualified personnel are not available, or where employees available do not have the experience and ability to perform the work required, (d) contract out work at any location where such work has not heretofore been performed by unit employees on a regular basis, or at any location where the Company has not heretofore maintained permanent maintenance facilities or employees. The Company shall not, however, contract out work if such contracting our would result in a reduction in force for any employee covered by this Agreement. Nothing in this Article, however,
shall prevent the Company from implementing a furlough for economic reasons unrelated to contracting out.
2.4 If the Company needs to contract out work presently performed by employees covered by this Agreement and not described in paragraph 2.3(a) through (d) above, the Company will so notify the Union by written notice. If after the effective date of this Agreement, the Union believes the Company is abusing the right to contract out as provided in this Article, the Union shall initiate discussions with the Company on that issue within ten (10) days of notice. Not later than ten (10) days after the conclusion of such discussions (as may be indicated in writing by one of the parties), the Union may seek resolution of any alleged violation by filing a grievance using the procedures set forth in Articles 6 and 7. The Union shall file any subcontracting grievances directly with the Company’s Vice President - Maintenance and Engineering, bypassing Steps One and Two of the Grievance Procedure set forth in Article 6.