Appendix A
Ground Rules

Section 1. General

These ground rules are to govern the conduct of negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Department and Local 12, AFGE, and shall become effective on the date either party serves written notice to the other party to amend this Agreement in accordance with Article 47, Section 2 of this Agreement.

Section 2. Rules

a. The parties shall meet within ten (10) workdays of a reopening of this Agreement for the purpose of negotiating ground rules for the conduct of term negotiations. Such negotiations over ground rules shall continue for five (5) consecutive workdays. If no agreement is reached, the issues in dispute shall be submitted to the Federal Service Impasses Panel.
b. Term negotiations shall begin as soon as practical after completing negotiations of the ground rules.
c. Management shall not compel Union representatives to negotiate outside of their normal duty hours.
d. The Union shall be entitled to up to ten (10) members on its bargaining team.
e. Negotiations shall be conducted at a mutually agreed upon site outside the Frances Perkins Building.
f. Negotiations over additional ground rules shall include:

(1) site, facilities, and services;
(2) schedule of bargaining sessions; and
(3) mediation procedures.

g. During term negotiations, if no agreement is reached after mediation, outstanding issues shall be submitted to the Federal Service Impasses Panel in accord with Section 7119 of the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations (FSLMR) Statute.
h. The Department's negotiating team is authorized to negotiate all items that are subject to negotiation under the FSLMR Statute.

The Union's negotiating team is authorized by its membership to negotiate all items that are subject to negotiation under the FSLMR Statute.

A new term Agreement reached, as appropriate, is subject to ratification by the Union.