GROUND RULES FOR NATIONAL NEGOTIATIONS

BETWEEN AFGE COUNCIL 171 AND DFAS

31 October 2003

PURPOSE: To establish rules for joint labor-management negotiations on issues and concerns that impact the terms and conditions of employment.

SCOPE: These ground rules apply to national negotiations/bargaining that are conducted by the AFGE Council 171/Agency National Negotiations Team. These ground rules shall be used for DoD CAC negotiations and will remain in effect until 30 April 2004.

BINDING AUTHORITY: The parties agree that the Co-Chairs or their designees will have binding authority and will memorialize agreements under these ground rules.

SCHEDULING: Dates, duration and daily scheduling of negotiation session will be determined by the Co-Chairs. The parties mutually agree to reconvene as determined by the Co-Chairs. In the event of problems with official time release procedures, such problems will be elevated to the Co-Chairs for resolution.

MEMBERSHIP: The team will be comprised of union and management representatives not to exceed 7 participants for each party. The parties shall be responsible for appointing their respective team members.

MEETING PREPARATION: The Co-Chairs will determine the amount of on-site preparation time that is necessary for each session. Union representatives shall be authorized official time for travel, research, preparation and negotiations performed during normal duty hours. Disputes will be raised to the Co-Chairs for resolution. The union will have one administrative support person to assist in the on-site preparations.

MEETING MINUTES/RECORD KEEPING: It is agreed that meeting minutes will be taken by two administrative assistants. The parties will each designate one individual to serve in this capacity. The minutes will concisely capture the issue, concerns and the team’s disposition/decision. Team members may have specific comments recorded by advising the Co-Chairs that they have comments for the record. The minutes will be distributed to the team members at the end of the week. Team decisions/agreements will be signed by the Co-Chairs. The parties will be given an original and electronic version of all signed documents.

GENERAL PROVISIONS:

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• Cell phones will be turned off at the table.
• Any member can request a process check at any time when it is believed the team is straying from the issue at hand or for other legitimate reasons.
• The parties agree to publish the union agreements on the DFAS Webpage (E Portal) normally within 30 days after final approval.
• Requests for travel will normally be provided to DFAS as soon as practical prior to negotiations. Travel orders will normally be provided to the traveler five days prior to the commencement of travel.
• Travel and per diem will be funded by the Agency as per JTR. Normally, travel will not be required for union members outside of normal duty hours.
• The Agency will provide for the copying of documents for the preparation/negotiating session. The Co-Chairs will determine a dollar amount for incidental copying to be placed on one member’s travel orders.
• Rental cars will be provided by the Agency as determined by the Co-Chairs.
• It is understood that union comments on draft regulations and/or policy statements are not to be considered a waiver of any bargaining right.
• In accordance with the statute/collective bargaining agreement, official time will be granted for third party proceedings.

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Agency DATE Union DATE

Teresa Briley, Acting Labor Relations Officer Kelley Dull, President AFGE Council 171