Labor Relations
GSFC-GESTA Collective Bargaining Agreement
Article 19 Competitive Levels
SECTION 19.01 Competitive level determinations made by Management shall be consistent with the provisions of 5 Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 351. Before implementing any reduction in force (RIF), Management must assign each position in the affected competitive area to a competitive level in accordance with applicable Office of Personnel Management rules and regulations and the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 19.02 A competitive level consists of all the positions in a competitive area that are in the same grade or occupational level and that are so alike in qualification requirements, duties, responsibilities, pay schedule and working conditions that Management may readily assign an employee in one position to any of the positions without changing the terms of the employee's appointment and without unduly interrupting the Center's work program. Characteristics shared by positions in the same level include, but are not limited to, similarity of duties, responsibilities, and similar requirements for experience, training and skills.
SECTION 19.03 The parties recognize that when Management considers the effects of qualifications on the composition of a competitive level, the concern is not with the qualifications an employee possesses but with the qualifications required by the duties and responsibilities of the position as stated in the current official position description.
SECTION 19.04 The competitive level to which an employee's position is assigned may change as a result of reassignment to new or different work, significant changes in duties which affect the title, series, or grade of the position or other actions or factors which serve to affect the competitive level determination of an employee's position. Once established, any competitive level change of an employee that results from a change in his/her position will be communicated to that employee and to GESTA under the provisions of Article 8, Section 8.01 and the requirements of Article 18, Section 18.03 of this Agreement if a RIF is in progress.
SECTION 19.05 Management shall maintain records of each competitive level showing all positions in the level. When positions with the same NASA Class Code, title, and grade are placed in different competitive levels, a brief rationale will be placed in the record. If records of competitive levels have not been kept current, they will be carefully reviewed and updated when a RIF is expected. In the event of a RIF, these records will be made available for review by GESTA, as necessary for representational purposes, and employees who are affected by RIF actions.
SECTION 19.06 Competitive levels are established and used solely for processing RIF actions and have no meaning to employees except in a RIF situation. However, upon completion of the computerized system for automating the maintenance of competitive levels, at any time upon request of a Unit employee, the Office of Human Resources shall inform the employee as to the competitive level for his/her position and other positions which are currently assigned to the same competitive level.
