Article 50
Facilities and Services

Section 1. General

The Department agrees to provide the Union with all such office space (Room N-1501 only in the FPB), furniture, and support services included with the standard rental cost for space as it has provided in the past.

Section 2. Union Bulletin Boards and Kiosks

a. The Department will continue to provide five (5) kiosks for Local 12 to post materials in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The kiosks are intended for the transmittal of information of mutual interest of employees and for announcements by the Union to employees in the bargaining unit.
b. Local 12 is responsible for the upkeep of these kiosks and for ensuring that posted materials are in conformance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 7131(b).
c. The Department will provide a bulletin board in each building where there are bargaining unit employees except in those buildings which have kiosks, and will also provide two (2) bulletin boards in the Frances Perkins Building (FPB), one near the Snack Bar and one near the Cafeteria. The specific locations and size of the bulletin boards will be determined by mutual agreement of both Management and Local 12, consistent with applicable regulations and fire and safety requirements. Local 12 is responsible for the upkeep of the bulletin boards and for ensuring that posted materials are in conformance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 7131(b).

Section 3. Use of Departmental Telephones for Labor-Management Business

a. Union Offices. The Department will continue to provide the use of telephone service in each Union office.
b. Union Stewards. Union stewards will have access to Departmental telephones for use when necessary in conducting representational business.

Section 4. Parking

Assigned Permits. The Department agrees to provide three (3) parking permits for the Union’s use in the FPB which shall be issued in the name of the Union for use by persons designated by the Union. The Union is responsible for paying any standard fees or charges normally assessed for use of similar parking privileges.

Union Visitors' Parking. In the event the Union needs a parking space(s) for a visitor(s) to the FPB, such request should be made to the Department's Office of Facilities Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, one (1) day in advance of the need. The Department will accommodate such requests to the extent space is available.

Section 5. Use of Departmental Photocopying Equipment

The use of photocopying equipment shall continue to be made available by the Department to the Union for representational business.

Section 6. Distribution of Union Handbills and Other Solicitations

The parties' conduct in this area shall be governed by 5 U.S.C. 7131(b).

Section 7. Use of Departmental Meeting Rooms In the FPB

Just like any DOL Agency or other entity in need of conference space, the rules and operating procedures of the Department’s Conference Center are applicable to Local 12 in connection with the Local’s need for conference space. On a case-by-case basis, whenever Local 12 is in need of conference space, it may contact the Business Office of the Conference Center to make a request. The same rules and operating procedures that apply to requests from other entities will be applied to requests from Local 12. Local 12 may not circumvent this requirement by making repeated ad hoc requests which would have the effect of continual or permanent use of conference space.

Section 8. Meeting Space in Other DOL Buildings

Management recognizes the need for private meeting space between the Union and bargaining unit employees in outlying buildings. Space for such meetings between Union stewards and bargaining unit employees will be provided in all outlying buildings, where available, upon adequate advance notice.

Section 9. Copies of Departmental Rules and Regulations

Management agrees to continue to make available to the Union its regulations as contained in the Department of Labor Manual Series (DLMS) and Department of Labor Personnel Regulations (DPRs). These documents will be available or provided in electronic format.

Section 10. Use of Internal Mail System

The Union shall have the opportunity to utilize the Department's internal mail system to distribute its newsletter to all employees. Material distributed through the internal mail system will be clearly identified as Local 12 material and may not contain any scurrilous, libelous, disparaging, or otherwise inappropriate material.

In all cases, the Union is responsible for providing the Department with the appropriate number of copies of the material to be distributed and sufficiently in advance of the distribution deadline desired.

Section 11. Electronic Mail

For the purpose of fostering effective and efficient communications between the parties, the Department shall provide Local 12 with access to the electronic mail system to handle communication between the Union and the Office of Employee and Labor-Management Relations.

Section 12. Facilities and Services Upgrades

The Department reserves the right to upgrade software, equipment, and technology in accordance with DOL’s IT infrastructure and applicable policies. Further, the Department reserves the right to upgrade physical facilities and security services, as appropriate, in accordance with DOL policies and government wide guidance or policies (i.e.; GSA regulations, Federal Protective Services policies, or Department of Homeland Security policies).

Section 13. Messages on Earnings and Leave Statements

a. Local 12 may timely submit to OELMR up to three messages per quarter for publication on Local 12 bargaining unit employees’ earnings and leave statements. Within technology and/or system capabilities and within the space allotted, the message will be identified as “Local 12 message” and may not contain any scurrilous, libelous, or otherwise inappropriate information.
b. Department messages for employees will take precedence over Local 12 messages.