AGREEMENT BETWEEN LOCAL 12, AFGE, AFL-CIO
AND THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Effective March 20, 2005

Table of Contents

Article 1 Coverage and Recognition
Section 1. Recognition
Section 2. Contravention
Section 3. Coverage
Section 4. Exclusions from Coverage
Section 5. Definition
Section 6. Disputes over Unit Coverage

Article 2 Management Rights
Section 1. General
Section 2. Exceptions

Article 3 Employee Rights
Section 1. Respect in the Workplace
Section 2. Compliance with Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Agreement
Section 3. Right to Join or Assist Union
Section 4. Conflict of Interest
Section 5. Right to Remedial Relief for Employees in the Bargaining Unit
Section 6. Private Lives vs. Official Duties
Section 7. Campaigns or Drives--Solicitation of Employees in the Bargaining Unit
Section 8. Use of Personal Audio Devices
Section 9. Supervision and Assignment of Work
Section 10. Polygraph Tests
Section 11. Required Membership and Participation in Professional Organizations
Section 12. Work Plans
Section 13. Personnel Records
Section 14. Complaints

Article 4 Mass Transit Subsidy

Article 5 Flexible or Compressed Work Schedules
Section 1. General
Section 2. Definitions and Administration
Section 3. Timekeeping: Sign In/Sign Out and Reporting Time and Attendance
Section 4. Flexible Hours of Work
Section 5. Exceptions to Flexible Hours of Work
Section 6. Part-Time Employees
Section 7. Coverage of Mission and Office Functions
Section 8. Abuse
Section 9. Hours of Work

Article 6 Leave
Section 1. Annual Leave
Section 2. Sick Leave
Section 3. Leaves of Absence for Full-Time Union Business
Section 4. Leave Restriction
Section 5. Leave Without Pay (LWOP)
Section 6. Absence Without Leave (AWOL)
Section 7. Administrative Leave
Section 8. Court Leave
Section 9. Compensatory Time Off for Religious Observances
Section 10. Voluntary Leave Bank and Leave Transfer Programs
Section 11. Family Leave

Article 7 Dependent Care Programs
Section 1. Types of Dependent Care Programs
Section 2. Local 12 Involvement

Article 8 Day Care
Section 1. Provision of Child Care Facility
Section 2. Management of Child Care Facility
Section 3. Priority on Admission
Section 4. Administrative Leave to Attend Meetings
Section 5. Reopening Negotiations
Section 6. Funds from Recycling Program

Article 9 Child Care Subsidy

Article 10 Receipt of Pay

Article 11 Employee Wellness
Section 1. General
Section 2. Health Services Program
Section 3. Wellness/Fitness Programs
Section 4. Fitness Facilities in Frances Perkins Building
Section 5. Other Fitness Programs
Section 6. Renegotiation

Article 12 Flexiplace
Section 1. Purpose
Section 2. Types of Arrangements: Informal and Formal
Section 3. Eligibility for the Formal Program
Section 4. Coverage of Office Functions
Section 5. Time Frames
Section 6. Operating Principles
Section 7. Recall
Section 8. Termination
Section 9. Space
Section 10. Pre-existing Flexiplace Arrangements under the Pilot Project
Section 11. Grievability
Section 12. Issue Resolution
Section 13. Flexiplace Committee
Section 14. Employee Self-Certification Safety Checklist
Section 15. Standard Individual Flexiplace Work Agreement

Article 13 Employee Assistance Program
Section 1. General
Section 2. Union-Management Cooperation
Section 3. Union Participation in Program Training
Section 4. Use of Sick Leave
Section 5. Relationship to Disciplinary and Adverse Action
Section 6. Union Responsibility

Article 14 Performance Management System
Section 1. General
Section 2. Introduction
Section 3. Procedures for Developing Elements and Performance Standards
Section 4. Performance Standards
Section 5. Annual Rating of Record
Section 6. Feedback
Section 7. Improving Unacceptable Performance
Section 8. Performance Improvement Plan
Section 9. Special Circumstances
Section 10. Grievability and Arbitrability of Job Elements and Performance Standards

Article 15 Within-Grade Increases
Section 1. General
Section 2. Advance Notice
Section 3. When Performance is Less than Acceptable
Section 4. Negative Determination
Section 5. Effect of Change of a Negative Determination

Article 16 Performance Awards
Section 1. General
Section 2. Effect of Summary Ratings

Article 17 Reduction in Grade and Removal Based on Unacceptable Performance
Section 1. Employees Covered
Section 2. Initial Procedures
Section 3. Notice of Proposed Action
Section 4. Employee Right to Review Material
Section 5. Appeal Rights

Article 18 Merit Staffing
Section 1. Introduction
Section 2. Coverage
Section 3. Exclusions
Section 4. Vacancy Announcements
Section 5. Interviews and Selections
Section 6. Career Ladders in DOL
Section 7. Informing Employees about Opportunities for Entrance Level Positions
Section 8. Review of Merit Staffing Actions

Article 19 Promotional Opportunities for Attorneys

Article 20 Position Classification
Section 1. Desk Audits
Section 2. Classification Audits
Section 3. Classification Appeals
Section 4. Position Classification
Section 5. Equal Pay for Equal Work

Article 21 Training and Lifelearning
Section 1. General
Section 2. Long-Term Career Development Programs
Section 3. Career Enhancement Program
Section 4. Equipment and Time for Continuing Education

Article 22 Educational Development/Community Service Opportunities
Section 1. Purposes
Section 2. Approval
Section 3. Recall to Work

Article 23 Student Loan Repayment Program
Section 1. General
Section 2. Consideration
Section 3. Criteria

Article 24 Travel
Section 1. General
Section 2. Scheduling Travel
Section 3. Travel Advances
Section 4. Use of Privately Owned Vehicles
Section 5. Use of Government Vehicles
Section 6. Hours of Work

Article 25 Equal Employment Opportunity
Section 1. Statement of Purpose
Section 2. Management Commitment
Section 3. Sexual Harassment
Section 4. Training
Section 5. Committees and Communications
Section 6. Affirmative Employment Plans and Programs
Section 7. Complaint Processing
Section 8. Special Emphasis Programs
Section 9. Meetings with Outside Groups on EEO Matters
Section 10. Reasonable Accommodation

Article 26 Temporary and Probationary Employees
Section 1. Temporary Employees
Section 2. Probationary Employees

Article 27 Part-Time Employment
Section 1. Introduction
Section 2. Consideration for Conversion

Article 28 Job Sharing
Section 1. Definition
Section 2. Status
Section 3. Tour of Duty
Section 4. Other

Article 29 Injury Compensation
Section 1. Liaison
Section 2. Counseling
Section 3. Leave Buy-Back

Article 30 Medical Qualifications and Determinations
Section 1. General
Section 2. Prerequisite Conditions
Section 3. Procedures
Section 4. Counseling
Section 5. Accommodations
Section 6. Records

Article 31 Contracting Out
Section 1. General
Section 2. A-76 Competitive Sourcing/Commercial Activity Process
Section 3. Personnel Considerations for Displaced Employees

Article 32 Reduction in Force or Transfer of Function
Section 1. General
Section 2. Notification
Section 3. Retention Registers
Section 4. Department of Labor Employee Placement Assistance for Reduction in Force or Transfer of Function
Section 5. Repromotion List
Section 6. RIF Contract Coverage

Article 33 Safety and Health
Section 1. General
Section 2. Committees
Section 3. Workplace Inspections
Section 4. Duty of Employees and Supervisors
Section 5. Employee Reports of Unsafe or Unhealthful Working Conditions
Section 6. Management Information
Section 7. Training
Section 8. Health Service
Section 9. Employees with Disabilities
Section 10. Environment
Section 11. Smoking Policy
Section 12. Ergonomic Hazards
Section 13. Security
Section 14. Personal Protective Equipment

Article 34 Space
Section 1. General
Section 2. Space Guidelines
Section 3. Informal Discussion

Article 35 Technology
Section 1. General
Section 2. Training on Technology

Article 36 Parking Facilities
Section 1. General
Section 2. Assignment of Carpool Spaces
Section 3. Changes in Garage Operations and Parking Fees

Article 37 Past Practices

Article 38 Governing Laws and Regulations
Section 1. General
Section 2. Agreement Governs
Section 3. New or Changed Rules or Regulations
Section 4. Bargaining Over New or Changed Rules or Regulations or Management Initiated Changes

Article 39 Labor-Management Cooperation

Article 40 Labor-Management Relations
Section 1. Statement of Purpose
Section 2. Levels of Communication
Section 3. Department Level Labor-Management Relations
Section 4. DOL Agency Labor-Management Relations

Article 41 Bargaining During the Term of the Agreement
Section 1. Introduction
Section 2. Process

Article 42 Informational Reports
Section 1. Periodic Reports
Section 2. Format

Article 43 Distribution of Agreement and Orientation of New Employees by Exclusive Representative
Section 1. Distribution of Copies
Section 2. New Employees
Section 3. Expenses
Section 4. Lists of New Employees

Article 44 Dues Withholding
Section 1. Procedure for Authorizing Dues Withholding
Section 2. Automatic Reinstatement of Dues Withholding
Section 3. Terminations
Section 4. Change in Dues
Section 5. Remittance to Local 12
Section 6. Correction of Errors
Section 7. Reopener Clause
Section 8. Duration of Agreement

Article 45 Official Time
Section 1. General
Section 2. List of Officers, Stewards, and Other Representatives
Section 3. Performance of Union Functions and Stewards' Area of Jurisdiction
Section 4. Official Time
Section 5. Training of Local 12 Representatives
Section 6. Preparing LM2 and Tax Forms
Section 7. Local 12 Union Officials

Article 46 Right to Representation
Section 1. General
Section 2. Investigative Examinations
Section 3. Meetings, Discipline, or Potential Discipline
Section 4. Adverse Actions

Article 47 Grievance Procedure
Section 1. Purpose
Section 2. Alternative Dispute Resolution
Section 3. Who May Initiate a Grievance
Section 4. Definition of a Grievance
Section 5. Exclusions from the Grievance Procedure
Section 6. Rights
Section 7. Grievance Form
Section 8. Procedures
Section 9. Union Grievances
Section 10. Department of Labor Grievances
Section 11. Grievance Procedure for Adverse and Performance-Based Actions
Section 12. Invocation of Arbitration
Section 13. Grievability/Arbitrability
Section 14. Termination of Grievance
Section 15. Modification of Procedures
Section 16. Failure to Meet Requirements

Article 48 Arbitration
Section 1. Panel of Arbitrators
Section 2. Cost of Arbitration
Section 3. Scheduling of Arbitration Hearings
Section 4. Submission of Case for Decision by the Arbitrator without a Hearing
Section 5. Prehearing Procedures
Section 6. Hearing Site
Section 7. Expedited Arbitration
Section 8. Authority and Decision of the Arbitrator
Section 9. Grievability and Arbitrability

Article 49 Adverse and Disciplinary Actions
Section 1. Employees Covered
Section 2. General
Section 3. Employee Right to Review Material
Section 4. Counseling, Warnings, Reprimands, or Admonishments
Section 5. Notice of Proposed Action
Section 6. Adverse Action--Suspensions of Fourteen (14) Days or Less
Section 7. Other Adverse Actions
Section 8. Pending Legal Charges
Section 9. Furloughs of Thirty (30) Days or Less
Section 10. Security Systems

Article 50 Facilities and Services
Section 1. General
Section 2. Union Bulletin Boards and Kiosks
Section 3. Use of Departmental Telephones for Labor-Management Business
Section 4. Parking
Section 5. Use of Departmental Photocopying Equipment
Section 6. Distribution of Union Handbills and Other Solicitations
Section 7. Use of Departmental Meeting Rooms in the FPB
Section 8. Meeting Space in Other DOL Buildings
Section 9. Copies of Departmental Rules and Regulations
Section 10. Use of Internal Mail System
Section 11. Electronic Mail
Section 12. Facilities and Services Upgrades
Section 13. Messages on Earnings and Leave Statements

Article 51 Duration
Section 1. Effective Date
Section 2. Duration
Section 3. Supplemental Agreement or Understanding
Section 4. Savings Clause

Appendix
Appendix A Merit System Principles under 5 U.S.C. 2301
Appendix B Prohibited Personnel Practices under 5 U.S.C. 2302