Article 35
Bargaining History
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This Article reflects the parties' commitment to establish and maintain meaningful communication between the parties at all levels of the Department. It is hoped that resolution of issues of concern should occur at the lowest possible level, between the steward and supervisor.

To establish a forum for meaningful consultation and communication at the Agency level, an Agency Labor-Management Relations Committee is established which is to consist of five (5) permanent members from both the Agency and Local 12. The Local 12 representatives will be from within the Agency. The Committee will meet at least quarterly, unless mutually agreed to otherwise. Organizational components which are part of the Office of the Secretary are to be considered as one Agency for purposes of this Article. The Director of the National Capital Service Center will serve as the contact person for the Union and will facilitate meetings which may be necessary to discuss issues affecting or relating to a specific organizational component.

The Department's Labor-Management Relations Committee is also established to provide a forum for discussing and consulting on Department-wide issues. This body will not address specific Agency concerns or issues but rather focus on issues which impact on all DOL components. This Committee is also composed of five (5) permanent members from both the Department and Local 12, and is to meet at least quarterly.

The major significant change made in Section 5 relating to organizational changes regards how consultations and negotiations will occur. It was the desire of the parties to have these matters dealt with at the lowest level, involving, to the extent practical, the Union officials and employees most directly involved.

The language requires that the Chief Steward be notified of any proposed organizational change. Once the Chief Steward receives notification, Union and Management shall meet to discuss the changes. The Agreement does not require that these consultations take place at the Agency LMR Committee, but allows the meeting to be arranged by the Chief Steward and relevant Management official. While it is understood that the Chief Steward may bring other bargaining unit employees to any such meetings, the number involved should not exceed five (5). Prior to these consultations, to the extent necessary, Management and the Union may agree to hold meetings with employees to obtain their views of the proposed changes. After these meetings, Management is to incorporate any agreed-to points in the specific organizational change plans which are then shared with the Union.

Language was maintained regarding what information should be shared with the Union prior to any consultations. However, it was clarified that "other information" was intended to mean other information necessary and relevant as may be required by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute so that the Union may carry out its representational responsibility as it relates to the organizational change being proposed.

The process envisioned here for consultations and negotiations is similar to the one for changes in space.

After the final plans have been shared with the Union, the Union has five (5) workdays to request negotiations. If no request is received by the end of five (5) days, it will be assumed that the Union has no objections to the plans, and the organizational change will be implemented. Conduct of the negotiations is governed by Article 36. Per that Article, such negotiations would be conducted at the Agency level in keeping with the desire to have matters dealt with at the lowest level.FLOW CHART ON CONSULTATIONS/NEGOTIATIONS ON ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES