Labor Relations
GSFC-GESTA Collective Bargaining Agreement
Article 9 GESTA Representation
SECTION 9.01 The parties agree to deal with authorized representatives of the other party in good faith and in a manner that encourages good labor relations. It is recognized that the parties are free to express themselves concerning the development and administration of personnel policies, procedures, and working conditions affecting employees within the Units. Management will not interfere with, restrain, or coerce any employee in the exercise by the employee of any right under Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act (CSRA) or this Agreement.
SECTION 9.02 The parties agree that GESTA may designate a reasonable number of departmental representatives and assign them areas in proximity to their place of work. The number of GESTA representatives shall be sufficient to assure that each employee within the Units has reasonable access to a GESTA representative. It is further agreed that no more than one departmental representative will be from a branch or equivalent organizational component at the same time.
SECTION 9.03 GESTA agrees to maintain with Management, on a current basis, a complete list of all elected officers and departmental representatives, together with the specific organizational component or area in which each representative is authorized to act on behalf of GESTA.
SECTION 9.04 GESTA agrees that each GESTA departmental representative shall normally restrict his/her GESTA representational activities to the specific work area or organizational component in which authorized by GESTA to act on its behalf.
SECTION 9.05 Reasonable time during work hours shall be provided, without charge to leave or loss of pay, to permit officers and representatives of GESTA to perform representational functions on behalf of Unit employees, which may also occur in the Union office, as authorized by the CSRA and the provisions of this Agreement. The activities for which official time is authorized shall include attending meetings with representatives of the Center, preparing comments on new or revised Center personnel policies and conferring with Unit employees on matters directly related to the administration of this Agreement; complaints and grievances within the Units, including performance appraisal representation; and preparation time for collective bargaining. GESTA agrees to guard against the use of excessive time for such activities and to assure that all GESTA officials and representatives engage only in those activities on official time which are authorized by this Agreement and the CSRA.
SECTION 9.06 To perform the activities specified in Section 9.05 of this Article, it is agreed that GESTA representatives shall be authorized to leave their work areas only with their supervisor's consent, which should not be unreasonably withheld. It is agreed that the GESTA representative must inform his/her supervisor of the estimated time needed for the representational activity. It is understood that such requests for the use of official time shall be considered in light of the GESTA representative's Government position and the conditions existing at the time. GESTA agrees that its representatives shall conduct their business with dispatch and shall use only the amount of official time which is necessary in light of the business to be transacted. The GESTA representative shall inform the supervisor when he/she returns to his/her assigned duties. If the supervisor of the GESTA official or representative believes that said representative's performance of GESTA assignments is interfering with his/her official duties, the matter shall be discussed between the supervisor and the GESTA representative.
SECTION 9.07 In the event that it is decided to change any GESTA officer's or representative's work area or organizational component, work assignment, work shift, workweek, or tour of duty, Management shall, unless the working conditions preclude it, give the officer or representative concerned ten (10) workdays notice prior to the effective date of such change. The reasons for effecting the change shall be described, upon request, in writing to the GESTA officer or representative involved.
SECTION 9.08 Internal Union business shall not be conducted when an employee is otherwise in a duty status unless he/she is on approved leave.
SECTION 9.09 Official work time spent by GESTA officers and representatives in performing representational activities shall be charged in accordance with the current instructions and job order numbers in effect at the time.
SECTION 9.10 GESTA officers and departmental representatives will be granted excused absence to receive information, briefings, or orientation not sponsored by Management but which relates to matters of mutual concern and benefit to the parties. Requests for use of this excused absence will be submitted to the Labor Relations Officer for consideration on a case by case basis. GESTA bears the responsibility for showing in what way the representative's participation in the meeting, seminar or conference will have the required benefit to the Center. Approval of excused absence will be contingent on Management's determination that the GESTA representative can be spared from his/her official job assignment.
SECTION 9.11 GESTA may provide training to its departmental representatives covering administration of this Agreement on duty time not to exceed eight (8) hours per representative for a total of 120 hours for each year of this Agreement; or, if supervisors are provided training in excess of this amount, GESTA departmental representatives will be provided training time equal to that provided to supervisors. Management agrees that the training program may be initiated by GESTA within 60 days after the effective date of this Agreement.
SECTION 9.12 The Labor Relations Officer will, upon request, make necessary arrangements for authorized local and national representatives of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) to visit the Center at reasonable times, subject to applicable security regulations, on appropriate business such as:
a. scheduled meeting with Management officials;
b. to assist in the preparation and presentation of grievances;
c. to meet with an employee at the employee's request; or
d. to accomplish special administrative assignments for GESTA in its relationship with the Bargaining Units. Such representatives shall make arrangements through the Labor Relations Officer.
SECTION 9.13 Management shall provide GESTA with 450 - 600 square feet of secured office space as well as basic office and conference room furnishings to include a personal computer with communications, commercial office software and a laser printer. GESTA will be responsible for providing their own office supplies. Management also agrees to list the GESTA office on the building directory and to provide an office identification plate(s) to be placed outside the GESTA office.
SECTION 9.14 Management will provide GESTA with a facsimile machine standard to Goddard and an analog phone line. GESTA will be provided two (2) additional telephone lines and phones, one of which will be a voice/data line and one which will have speaker phone capability. GESTA will be assigned a phone mail account. Management will provide a CNE connection and a TV connection to NASCOM, if possible, in the GESTA office.
SECTION 9.15 Management will provide maintenance for equipment specified in Sections 9.13 and 9.14 of this Article. GESTA will have property responsibility for all equipment assigned to the GESTA office. All facilities, equipment, and services provided to GESTA will be maintained in accordance with Center policies and will be used for representational purposes only.
