Band Together Special Communique:

Union and Management Reach

Interim Collective Bargaining Agreement

September 26, 2008

The Union Bargaining Committee has reached an interim agreement with management –subject to ratification by the entire bargaining unit -- that addresses certain significant rights for GAO employees and the operations of our union. The interim agreement addresses items the Union and Management felt needed to be addressed before we enter negotiations on a comprehensive contract. A brief description of each article of the agreement is provided below.

The full Interim Council will vote on recommending the Interim Agreement to the full bargaining unit for ratification.  Before the bargaining unit is asked to vote (hopefully by mid-October), the Interim Agreement will be provided to bargaining unit members in its entirety and listening sessions will be held.

Article I. Notice of Union Representation: The Union will notify Workforce Relations of persons who are union officers, council members, and stewards so that Management knows who is representing the Union in an official capacity.  Likewise, Management agrees to inform the Union of persons who represent Management and whose primary responsibility is labor relations.

Article II. Official Time: The Union will have a bank of hours (official time) for officers, Interim Council members, and designees to carry out representational activities.  The article requires that all use of official time be approved by an employee’s supervisor.

Article III.  Union Representation at Management Meetings with Unit Employees:

An employee can make a request for union representation at formal discussions and at informal resolution meetings in order to help resolve the issue hand.

Article IV. Grievance/ Arbitration: Provides for third-party neutral arbitration of grievance decisions. 

Article V. Use of GAO Resources:  Allows the Union to use GAO phone, internet, copier, email, fax, and VTC for representational activities.  It allows the Union to use the GAO travel system.  It provides that the GAO intranet homepage’s main screen will include a link to the Union’s website.

Article VI. Notice of Proposed Changes in Negotiable Conditions of Employment:

Management agrees to notify the Union in advance of soliciting employee comments on proposed changes to GAO Orders. The article gives timeframes for the Union to exercise the right to initiate negotiations over Management’s proposed changes.

Article VII.  Dues Withholding: Allows for Union dues automatic withholding deductions from bargaining unit members who join the Union.

Article VIII.  Precedence of Law: Provides that the Interim Agreement will remain in effect until a master term collective bargaining agreement is reached.  It also includes a clause that the agreement does not waive any other existing rights for the Union or Management.