AFGE LOCAL 520 AGENDA

INTRODUCTION OF OFFICERSINTRODUCTION OF OFFICERSDISCUSS AND RATIFIED THE CONTRACT DISCUSS AND RATIFIED THE CONTRACT

3:00 – 4:00 P.M.3:00 – 4:00 P.M.INTRO AND BROWSE THE NEW WEBSITE INTRO AND BROWSE THE NEW WEBSITE

4:00 - 4:30 P.M. 4:00 - 4:30 P.M.DINNER & DOOR PRIZESDINNER & DOOR PRIZES

4:30 - 5:30 P.M. 4:30 - 5:30 P.M.DISCUSSION SESSSIONDISCUSSION SESSSION

5:30 – 7:00 P.M.5:30 – 7:00 P.M.

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

ArticlesArticles 1997 Master Agreement Article1997 Master Agreement Article New Master Agreement ArticleNew Master Agreement Article

Article: Article: Governing Laws and RegulationsGoverning Laws and Regulations Article 2 Article 2 Article 2 Article 2

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: Child CareChild Care Article 8 Article 8 Article 8 Article 8

Article: Article: ClassificationClassification Article 9 Article 9 Article 9 Article 9

Article: Article: Contracting OutContracting Out Article 11 Article 11 Article 11 Article 11

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: DisciplineDiscipline Article 13 Article 13 Article 14 Article 14

Article: Article: Employee Awards and RecognitionEmployee Awards and Recognition Article 15 Article 15 Article 16 Article 16

Article: Article: InvestigationsInvestigations Article 21 Article 21 Article 22 Article 22

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: Merit PromotionsMerit Promotions Article 22 Article 22 Article 23 Article 23

Article: Article: Performance Appraisal Performance Appraisal Article 26 Article 26 Article 26 Article 26

Article: Article: Reduction in ForceReduction in Force Article 27 Article 27 Article 28 Article 28

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: Silent MonitoringSilent Monitoring Article 29 Article 29 Article 31 Article 31

Article: Article: Training and Career Training and Career DevelopmentDevelopment

Article 34 Article 34 Article 37 Article 37

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: Upward MobilityUpward Mobility Article 36 Article 36 Article 39 Article 39

Article: Article: SurveillanceSurveillance Article 47 Article 47 Article 50 Article 50

Article: Article: Title 38 AdvancementTitle 38 Advancement Article 49 Article 49 Article 52 Article 52

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: Clinical ResearchClinical Research Article 50 Article 50 Article 53 Article 53

Article: Article: Title 38 Nurse Pay/Survey Title 38 Nurse Pay/Survey Article 51 Article 51 Article 54 Article 54

Article: Article: Professional Standards BoardsProfessional Standards Boards Article 53 Article 53 Article 58 Article 58

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: ProficiencyProficiency Article 54 Article 54 Article 59 Article 59

Article:Article: Title 38 Representation at Boards or Title 38 Representation at Boards or HearingsHearings

Article 55 Article 55 Article 60 Article 60

Article: Article: Title 38 Vacancy AnnouncementsTitle 38 Vacancy Announcements Article 56 Article 56 Article 61 Article 61

ROLLOVER ARTICLES

Article: Article: Research GrantsResearch Grants Article 58 Article 58 Article 63 Article 63

Article: Article: Wage SurveysWage Surveys Article 60 Article 60 Article 65 Article 65

Article: Article: Duration of AgreementDuration of Agreement

ARTICLE 9 – Classification

C. Employees will be furnished a current, accurate copy of the description of the position to which assigned at the time of assignment and upon request. In order to ensure accurate PDs, the term "other duties as assigned" should not be used to assign duties that are not related tothe employee's position. In such instances, the employee should discuss these duties with the supervisor to

determine whether the PD is accurate. The Department reserves its right to assign work that is not in the PD. If that occurs on a regular basis, the PD must be revised to accurately reflect the job duties.

ARTICLE 10 - Competence

A. The Department shall train bargaining Unit employees on all new equipment, technology changes, and clinical procedures needed to perform the duties of their job. For employees who are subject to production and timeliness standards, the training time will be excluded from the production or timeliness standard.

G. Copies of competencies will be provided to the local union. When the Department changes an employee's competency, the local union will be afforded a reasonable opportunity to bargain regarding negotiable matters related to the change.

H. Disputes over the matters that may be bargained concerning competencies may be referred to partnerships or the equivalent at the appropriate level.

ARTICLE 12 – Details And Temporary PromotionsB. Employees shall be recognized for the work they perform. Details of

one week or more shall be recorded and maintained in the Official Personnel Folder/electronic Official Personnel Folder (OPF/eOPF). In addition, employees may document in the eOPF details of less than one week, by submitting an SF-172 or a memorandum.

C. The Department will provide notification ofall details to the local union President. Where the detail did not result in changes toconditions of employment, the notification will be at least weekly. Where changes to conditions of employment would result, the Department will provide reasonable advance notice. When a detail is known far enough in advance and affects conditions of employment, the notification should occur as soon as practicable but no later than 10 days prior to the

employee being detailed.

ARTICLE 12 – Details And Temporary Promotions Con’tD.1. The Department will canvass the qualified employees to determine if

anyone wishes to be detailed. If the same numbers of volunteers as vacancies exist, they shall be selected. If an employee believes he/she is qualified and is excluded from consideration for a detail because of lack of qualifications, the Department, upon request of the local union, will articulate in writing the qualifications required for performance of the detail that the employee lacks.

D.2. If more employees volunteer than vacancies exist, the Department will select from the qualified volunteers. Seniority will be the selection criterion, except when management demonstrates and determines that the position to which an employee will be detailed requires unique skills and abilities that are not possessed by another qualified employee or that a medical or operational need requires or precludes the detail of a particular employee.

ARTICLE 12 – Details And Temporary Promotions Con’tD.2. If more employees volunteer than vacancies exist, the Department

will select from the qualified volunteers. Seniority will be the selection criterion, except when management demonstrates and determines that the position to which an employee will be detailed requires unique skills and abilities that are not possessed by another qualified employee or that a medical or operational need requires or precludes the detail of a particular employee.

D.3 same language addedD5. Seniority shall be defined locally through negotiations between the

local union and the Department. Examples include service computation date, continuous service in the Department, continuous service in the facility, continuous government-wide service, and service time in awork unit. Once established, the definition of seniority will not be changed for the duration of the Master Agreement.

ARTICLE 13 – Reassignment, Shift Changes, and Relocation Section 1 General, A – H except B newSection 1 General, A – H except B new Sections 3, 4, and 5 newSections 3, 4, and 5 new

ARTICLE 15 – Employee AssistanceSection-2 A. The Department will ensure that the

confidentiality of medical records of employees concerning treatment for problems related to alcohol, drugs, emotional concerns or other personal issues will be preserved in accordance with current public laws and OPM regulations.

Section-3 A. The Department will assure that no employee will have job security, performance rating, proficiency rating, or promotion opportunities jeopardized, or be subject to disciplinary action, adverse action or major adverse action, solely because of a request for counseling or referral assistance.

ARTICLE 15 – Employee Assistance Con’tSection 5 - Relationship to Other Actions Afundamental purpose of EAP is to

assist employees with problems that may result in conduct or performance deficiencies. However, the program is not intended to shield employees from corrective action in all instances. For this reason, the Department will hold in abeyance a proposed corrective action so long as the employee participates in EAP does not engage in new instances of misconduct or performance deficiency and successfully completes the treatment to which he/she is referred. If the employee meets these requirements, the proposed corrective action will be rescinded. This provision only applies in the first instance of the problem(s) requiring EAP assistance and does not apply if severe, egregious, or criminal misconduct is involved. Asuccessful proqram assists the employee in overcoming a personal problem so that performance and/or conduct improves and corrective action, such as disciplinary action adverse action major adverse action, or other performance-based actions, becomes unnecessary.'

ARTICLE 17 – Employee Rights

New Section 1F –H and 15

Section 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 all have changes

ARTICLE 18 – Equal Employment OpportunitiesSection 2.E. Commitment to the prevention of workplace

harassment and sexual harassment;

B. The Department will offer reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with known physical disabilities or mental impairments, or those who have a record of

past impairment regardless of the type of appointment, unless the Department can demonstrate that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the Department's program (as defined in 29 CFR 1614.203).

ARTICLE 18 – Equal Employment OpportunitiesC. Requests should be made in accordance with VA

Handbook 5975.1 (Processing Request for Reasonable Accommodation by Employees and Applicants with Disabilities) or in accordance with the local facility's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) approved policy on request for reasonable accommodation.

The Department shall process requests for reasonable accommodation and provide accommodations, when appropriate, in as short a timeframe as is reasonable. When possible, decisions regarding accommodations should be rendered within 30 calendar days of the date the request was received.

ARTICLE 18 – Equal Employment OpportunitiesChanges to Section 3 L, M, & N

Changes to Section 4 E

Changes to Section 7 B-D

Changes to Section 8 A & B & D

ARTICLE 19 – Fitness For Duty

Section 1 – Section 1 – The Department will have the right to require medical examinations The Department will have the right to require medical examinations only if they are job related and consistent with business necessity.only if they are job related and consistent with business necessity.

Section 7 - Essential FunctionsA. An employee can be directed to undergo a fitness for duty examination only if

the employee's position is one that has established essential functions, either mental or physical. Such essential functions must have wording to clearly support them, by being objective. Essential functions are those that are so fundamental to the position that a person cannot do the job without performing them. A function is 'essential' if, among other things, the position exists specifically to perform that function; there are a limited number of other employees who could perform the function; or, the function is specialized and the individual is hired based on his/her ability to perform them. Determination of the essential functions of a position must be done on a case-by-casebasis so that it reflects the job as actually performed, and not simply the components of a generic PD.

ARTICLE 20 - Telework

Section 1A …The primary intent of the telework program is to support the Section 1A …The primary intent of the telework program is to support the mission of the Department in an alternative work setting. Telework mission of the Department in an alternative work setting. Telework must not be used as an alternative to or in lieu of dependent care. must not be used as an alternative to or in lieu of dependent care. Employees who telework will be permitted to take care of personal Employees who telework will be permitted to take care of personal matters in the same way as employees who do not telecommute.matters in the same way as employees who do not telecommute.

Section 1C - The parties agree that employees participating in the telework Section 1C - The parties agree that employees participating in the telework are performing the same duties as their counterparts working at VA are performing the same duties as their counterparts working at VA facilities. In the interest of fairness and equity, employees shall not be facilities. In the interest of fairness and equity, employees shall not be disadvantaged on their performance expectations because of their disadvantaged on their performance expectations because of their participation in telework. The Department shall use the same participation in telework. The Department shall use the same measurements of work for employees who are on telework as are used measurements of work for employees who are on telework as are used for those employees who perform those same tasks at their Official for those employees who perform those same tasks at their Official Duty Station (ODS)Duty Station (ODS)

ARTICLE 21– Hours of Work and OvertimeSection 1B and 2A changes

Section 6 – Local Negotiation

Those facilities having locally negotiated agreements will continue to honor those agreement so long as they do not conflict with the Master Agreement. A conflict will be resolved in favor of the Master Agreement.

ARTICLE 25 Official Time

New Section 5 B-D – Transportation, Travel, New Section 5 B-D – Transportation, Travel, and Per Diemand Per Diem

New Section 9New Section 9

ARTICLE 26 – Parking and TransportationNew section 8 – Transit SubsidiesNew section 8 – Transit Subsidies

ARTICLE 29 – Safety, Health & Environment

New Section 1B&C - GeneralNew Section 1B&C - General

ARTICLE 30 – Occupational HealthNew New

ARTICLE 32 – Staff Lounges

New Section 5 Any current collective bargaining agreements and/or past practices shall remain in effect, until and unless changed through bargaining.

ARTICLE 33 – Temporary, Part-time and Probationary EmployeesNew Contract Section 1 new languageNew Contract Section 1 new language

ARTICLE 34 – JOB SHARING

Rollover from Article 34 old contractRollover from Article 34 old contract

Article 35 –Time and Leave

Section 4 - Sick Leave

A. It is the responsibility of the employee who is incapacitated for duty to notify the immediate supervisor or designee (or to have any responsible person make the notification for the employee) at the work site as soon as possible but no later than two hours after the employee is scheduled to report for duty unless mitigating circumstances exist. The Department will assure a designated number is established for the supervisor or designee to receive such notifications; the employee's obligation is to complete one phone call, to either the established number, or to an alternate number the employee was notified to use. In the event that the supervisor or designee is not available, employees may use voice mail to notify the supervisor or designee of the type of leave requested.

Article 35 –Time and Leave

D. Title 5 and hybrid employees are entitled to sick leave when the employee:

D4 NewSection 7 Registration and Voting changesSection 11 – Hazardous Weather/Emergency Conditions New

B, C, D, G, HSection 12 – Title change to Accommodation for Religious

ObservancesSection 13 – Military Leave New HSection 14A – Advanced Annual/Sick Leave – request a

waiver

Article 35 –Time and Leave Con’tSection 14 D and E new

Section 15 – Voluntary Leave Transfer Program B-L new

Section 16 – Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) 6d-g and 9 New

Section 17 – Blood, Bone Marrow and Organ Donor Leave New

Section 19 – Funeral Leave New

Article 38 - Uniforms

Section 1 – General …Nothing will prevent Section 1 – General …Nothing will prevent local negotiation on uniform issues.local negotiation on uniform issues.

Article 40 – Within-Grade Increases and Periodic Step Increases

New Section 1.B.1 uses fully successful New Section 1.B.1 uses fully successful languagelanguage

ARTICLE 41 – Workers’ CompensationSection 1 – General NewSection 1 – General New

Section 2B New Section 2B New

Section 2C changesSection 2C changes

Section 2D-F NewSection 2D-F New

Section 5A-B NewSection 5A-B New

Section 6 NewSection 6 New