Veterans Affairs Regional Office

This agreement will serve as a supplement to the 1997 “Master Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the American Federation of Government Employees”.

This supplemental agreement is being entered into between the Phoenix VA Regional Office and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local #2552, to implement and maintain a cooperative, constructive working relationship between labor and management to achieve common goals, to assure that employees have an effective work environment and provide quality and timely service to veterans and their beneficiaries.

Bargaining Unit Members

The unit for which AFGE Local #2552 is recognized as the exclusive representative, includes all non-supervisory, non-temporary employees at the Veterans Affairs Regional Office, Phoenix, Arizona, excluding all professional employees, supervisors, management officials, personnel engaged in Federal personnel work in other than a purely clerical capacity and secretaries to the Regional Office Director and Assistant Director.

Article 3 - Partnership

The Phoenix Partnership Committee agrees to the principles of partnership and will work towards the design, implementation and maintenance of a cooperative, constructive working relationship to achieve common goals.

Article 3 - Section 2A - Principles - Partnership

Pre-decisional involvement is a term which represents those activities where employees through their elected exclusive representative are afforded by agency management the opportunity to shape decisions in the workplace which impact on the work the employees perform.

Pre-decisional involvement does not waive management’s statutory right to make decisions under section 7106 of the Statute, nor does it waive the Union’s right to engage in bargaining prior to implementation to the extent required by the Statute.

Article 4 - Section 1B/C - Union Sponsored or Requested Labor-Management Relations Training

It is agreed that employees serving as representatives of the Union Local #2552, may be excused without charge to leave for training sponsored by the labor organization concerned or the agency where the training will be of advantage or benefit to the agency, as well as the labor organization concerned. Such training may include information, briefing and orientation relating to matters within the scope, goals and purposes of Executive Order 11491.

Requests for excused absence for training of a labor organization representative must be submitted by the President of Local #2552 or designee, in writing together with information supplied by the organization setting forth the content of training, its duration, a statement of how the training is related to the employee’s performance of his/her organization duties and a statement that the training is beneficial.

Article 6 - Section 2 and 4 - Definitions and Intentions/Implementation - Alternative Dispute Resolution

Management and the Union have endorsed mediation as the preferred method of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). The Regional Office will participate in the Phoenix Federal Executive Association’s ADR or “Shared Neutrals Program”, when established by negotiating a procedure for soliciting and selection of employees to serve as mediators.

Other forms of ADR, such as Interest Based Bargaining may also be used to resolve disputes.

Article 8 - Section 3 - Child Care

Within one year after this supplemental agreement is in effect, the Partnership Committee will have investigated Child Care options and availability.

Article 12 - Section 1C5 - Details

Seniority is defined as time in the position from which volunteers are chosen. In the event employees have the same entry date for the position, service computation date will be the tie breaker.

Article 12 - Section 6 - Shift Change and Relocation

Seniority is defined as Phoenix Regional Office on-station entry-on-duty date.

Article 12 - Section 10 B - Reassignment

When employees request voluntary reassignments, they will receive a response from the Division Chief or designee on whether the reassignment is feasible.

When management wishes to reassign employee(s) from one position to another, where feasible, volunteers will be solicited from amongst affected employee(s) to determine their interest in the reassignment; however, management retains the right to reassign employees and the Union retains the right to bargain on appropriate arrangements.

Article 13 - Section 5 - Alternative and Progressive Discipline

The Regional Office and AFGE Local #2552 agree that alternative discipline can be used when appropriate in lieu of traditional disciplinary measures. The decision to enter into such an agreement will be voluntarily and not interfere with an employee’s right to due process.

Article 15 - Section 4 - Awards Panels

The Regional Office and AFGE Local #2552 agree to the continuation of the Incentive Awards and Recognition Panel which will have responsibility for implementing in a fair, equitable, mission-related manner; incentive awards including Special Contribution Awards, On-the-Spot Awards, Suggestion Awards, Time-off Awards and Employee of the Quarter. The jurisdiction of the panel will cover all employees of the Regional Office.

Station Circular 25-98-10, “Incentive Awards and Recognition Program” dated November 5, 1998, will constitute the appropriate article in the local negotiated agreement. Any subsequent changes to Station Circular 25-98-10 will be developed by the local Incentive Awards and Recognition Panel with concurrence of the Partnership Committee and Station Director.

Article 20 - Section 2A - Work Schedule Options

Management and the Union support the concepts of work schedule options where feasible.

Article 20 - Section 2C2c - Compressed Work Schedule

Seniority is defined as time in the position. In the event employees have the same entry date for the position, service computation date will be the tiebreaker.

Personnel who request participation in Compressed Work Schedules, once approved, retain the right to that schedule until it is relinquished by the employee.

Management in conjunction with the Union reserves the right to use other means, based upon good faith consideration, to resolve Compressed Work Schedule disputes, when needed.

Article 20 - Section 3H - Tours of Duty/Scheduling

Seniority is defined as time in the position. In the event employees have the same entry date for the position, service computation date will be the tie breaker.

Article 20 - Section 4G - General Overtime Provisions

Overtime will be distributed in a fair and equitable manner to all employees who have the required skills to perform the duties of the work being performed during an overtime period.

Employees will be offered the opportunity to participate in overtime work. If overtime funds do not allow for all employees to participate in the overtime and the issue cannot be resolved, a rotation list will be established. The rotation will be based on seniority.

Seniority is defined as time in the position. In the event employees have the same entry date for the position, service computation date will be the tie breaker.

Article 25 - Section 3 - Parking and Transportation

Management and the Union will negotiate this section when/if the Regional Office relocates or when there are changes in the lease agreement that address parking issues.

Employees who have been issued a building/parking access card will be provided a replacement card at no cost to them, if the card is damaged due to normal wear and tear.

Article 25 - Section 5 - Shuttle Service

Does not apply to this Station.

Article 28 - Section 2H - Union Participation - Safety, Health and Environment

A Health, Emergency Preparedness and Safety Committee will be established to address and review issues such as but not limited to, type of training needed, frequency of training, wellness programs, workplace violence, ergonomics, exposure to communicable diseases etc. The committee will consist of three (3) bargaining unit members appointed by the Union and three (3) management officials.

Article 30 - Staff Lounges

Management agrees to provide a staff lounge/break room for use by all employees. Both management and union agree that maintenance and sanitary conditions in such areas are a dual responsibility of the employees using the lounge and the appropriate cleaning service.

Staff lounges shall not be accessible to visitors, except where authorized.

The Union shall be notified if any change is contemplated in the designated lounge. Management agrees not to make such change until after discussion and/or negotiation with the Union.

Article 32 - Section 2H - Annual Leave

Service computation date will be used in resolving conflicts between two or more employees over choice of annual leave.

Article 32 - Section 4B - Sick Leave

The preferred method of notification is by telephone.

By prior mutual agreement between the employee and their immediate supervisor, employee notification of incapacitation may be accomplished by fax or electronic mail (e-mail). It is the employee’s responsibility to assure that the supervisor receives the notification.

Article 32 - Section 13 - Hazardous Weather/Emergency Conditions

When emergency situations arise such as severe weather conditions or other mass emergencies the Facility Director in consultation with the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator/Safety Officer and the Union President or designees will meet to determine appropriate course of action using the Station Occupant Emergency Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan and Business Continuity Contingency Plan.

Article 32 - Section 17 - Voluntary Leave Transfer Program/Leave Bank

The Leave Transfer program will continue to be operated at the Phoenix Regional Office as defined in Phoenix Regional Office Memorandum dated December 6, 1989. Local procedures for Leave Banks will be negotiated when/if implemented by VA Central Office.

Article 34 - Training and Career Development

The Regional Office will continue use of the local Training Committee consisting of each Division Chief, the local Union President and a representative of the Diversity Committee, which will perform the functions specified in Article 34, Section 2 of the Master Agreement.

Training that is established and conducted by VBA or is business line specific may restrict the flexibility of local management and the union in selection of personnel to attend the training. When this type of program is announced and there are a number of bargaining unit employees qualified and available to attend, management and the union will use pre-decisional involvement, as defined in Article 3, Section 2 A, on the most appropriate individual(s) to participate.

The Partnership Council will review the status of VBA/business line training opportunities periodically to address issues.

Article 35 - Uniforms

Does not apply to this Station.

Article 36 - Section 3 - Identifying Positions - Upward Mobility

The Human Resources Liaison and the Union President or designee will review Position Management Committee (PMC) requests and make recommendations to the Director in identifying those vacancies which may be appropriate to announce as an upward mobility position.

Article 43 - Local Supplements

In accordance with this article, the Phoenix Regional Office Partnership Committee, consisting of an equal number of management and union representatives has reached consensus on this local supplemental agreement.

Article 45 - Section 10 - Local - Official Time

Union officials and representatives shall receive official time as indicated below:

Local President - Up to 50% as determined by the incumbent

Other Representatives - Reasonable and necessary

The Union agrees to keep a log of all official and duty time (which involve union functions), which will be reviewed and discussed at the Partnership Committee meetings.

Article 46 - Section 9 - New Employee Orientation

The scheduled starting time of the Union presentation will be jointly decided by the Union President and the Human Resources Liaison or their designees.

Article 48 - Section 4 - Equipment

The Union office will be considered on an equal basis for computer hardware/software upgrades with the business and administrative functions of the Regional Office. Concerns about comparable capabilities will be immediately addressed by the Partnership Committee.

Article 48 - Section 5 - Bulletin Boards

The Union will be provided space to post appropriate material on the Regional Office bulletin board, the board located in the lounge/break room and on a board located in each Division. Additional space may be utilized within the Divisions depending on availability.

Article 48 - Section 8 - Membership Drives

Will be negotiated on an as needed basis.

Article 48 - Section 11C - Transportation

This will be dealt with on an as-needed basis.

Article 48 - Section 12A - Literature

The Union will be provided space in the Human Resources office and the lounge/break room to leave appropriate literature.

The Union will provide Human Resources material to be given out to new employees during their initial in processing.

Duration and Amendments

This Local Supplemental Agreement shall become effective upon ratification of the membership of the Union, approval of the Phoenix Regional Director, review by VA Headquarters and the VA National Council.

This agreement shall remain in full force and effect for a period of three (3) years after its effective date. It shall be automatically renewed for one (1) year periods unless either party gives the other party notice of its intention to renegotiate this Agreement no less than sixty (60) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to its termination date. Negotiations shall begin no later than thirty (30) days after these conditions have been met.

If the Master Agreement is renegotiated and results in significant changes, this local supplement will be reviewed within one (1) year of the effective date of the new or revised Master Agreement.

Negotiations initiated by either party during the term to add to, amend, or modify this local agreement may be conducted only by mutual consent of the parties. If mutual consent is reached, such notice to renegotiate must be accompanied by the revised proposals for the article(s) the party wishes to renegotiate. The parties will meet for the purpose of negotiating the amendments or modifications within thirty (30)

days of receipt of the proposals from the moving party.

For the VARO, Phoenix, Arizona: For AFGE Local 2552:

Karen Beasley, Finance Officer Patrick Driscoll, President

Mack Caton, VSCM. Kathy Johnson, Treasurer

Robert Johnson, LGO Anna Janssen, Secretary

Janis Wood, Chief Human Resources Maria Parker, Chief Steward

David M. Walls, Director

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