Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee The Employer and the Union recognize the role of the joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee in promoting a safe and healthful workplace. The parties agree that a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee shall be established for each Employer covered by this Collective Agreement. The Committee shall govern itself in accordance with the provisions of the Industrial Health and Safety Regulations made pursuant to the Workers’ Compensation Act. The Committee shall be as between the Employer and the Union, with equal representation, and with each party appointing its own representatives. Representatives of the Union shall be chosen by the Union membership or appointed by the Union. All minutes of the meetings of the Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee will be recorded in a mutually agreeable format and will be sent to the Union. The Union further agrees to actively pursue with the other Health Care Unions a Joint Union Committee for the purposes of this Article. The Employer agrees to provide or cause to be provided to Employer members of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee adequate training and orientation to the duties and responsibilities of committee members to allow the incumbents to fulfil those duties competently. The Union agrees to provide or cause to be provided to Union members of the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee adequate training and orientation to the duties and responsibilities of committee members to allow the incumbents to fulfil those duties competently. Such training and orientation shall take place within six (6) months of taking office.
Occupational Health and Safety Committee
(a) The parties agree that a joint occupational health and safety committee will be established. The Committee shall govern itself in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations made pursuant to the Workers Compensation Act. The Committee shall be between the Employer and the Union, with equal representation, and with each party appointing its own representatives. The Union agrees to actively pursue with the other Health Care unions, where more than one union is certified with the Employer, a joint union/employer committee for the purposes of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.
(b) Employees who are members of the Committee shall be granted leave without loss of pay or receive straight-time regular wages while attending meetings of the Joint Committee. Employees who are members of the Committee shall be granted leave without loss of pay or receive straight-time regular wages to participate in joint workplace inspections and joint accident investigations at the request of the Committee pursuant to the WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. Committee meetings, workplace inspections and accident investigations shall be scheduled during normal working hours whenever practicable.
(c) The Occupational Health and Safety Committee shall have as part of its mandate the jurisdiction to receive complaints or concerns regarding workload problems which are safety-related, the right to investigate such complaints, the right to define the problem and the right to make recommendations for a solution. Where the Committee determines that a safety-related workload problem exists, it shall inform the Employer. Within 21 days thereafter, the Employer shall advise the Committee what steps it has taken or proposes to take to rectify the safety-related workload problem identified by the Committee. If the Union is not satisfied with the Employer's response, it may refer the matter to the Industry Trouble shooter for a written recommendation.
(d) No employee shall be disciplined for refusal to work when excused by the provisions of the
Office of Inspector General Investigative Findings Expert Review In accordance with Senate Bill 799, Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., if Texas Government Code, Section 531.102(m-1)(2) is applicable to this Contract, Contractor affirms that it possesses the necessary occupational licenses and experience.
Respectful Workplace a. The Employer is committed to taking appropriate measures to create and maintain a workplace that is respectful and free from inappropriate workplace behavior for all Agency employees pursuant to the statewide policy titled ‘Maintaining a Professional Workplace Policy’ (50.010.03).
b. If an Agency employee believes an Agency employee, supervisor or manager has violated the statewide policy titled ‘Maintaining a Professional Workplace’ (50.010.03), the employee shall submit a complaint pursuant to the process outlined in the policy. The Agency complaint form will be accessible to all employees both online and through the Agency’s Human Resources Office.
c. The employee may have a Union representative present during regular work hours when reporting inappropriate workplace behavior and through the process outlined in this section.
d. The Agency shall investigate the complaint and shall provide a written response to the employee filing the complaint within thirty (30) calendar days of the complaint being filed. When circumstances warrant it, the Agency may take additional time to complete the investigation in blocks of additional thirty (30) calendar days with notice to the Union. The response will include whether the complaint was substantiated and any relevant non confidential information pertaining to the remedial steps taken, if any. Repeated behavior or conduct shall be reported to the Agency Human Resource Office.
e. For purposes of this Section, the grievance procedure in Subsection 6 replaces the grievance procedure outlined in the local agreement.
(1) If the employee who filed the complaint believes that the Agency did not respond to the complaint or the complaint process was not followed, the Union, on behalf of the employee, may file a grievance directly with the Agency Head. The Agency Head or designee shall respond to the grievance within thirty (30) calendar days from the date of receipt of the grievance.
(2) If the employee continues to believe the Agency did not respond to the complaint or did not follow the complaint process, the Union, on behalf of the employee may, within fifteen (15) calendar days of the Agency Head or designee’s response, file the grievance with the Department of Administrative Services Labor Relations Unit. The grievance will be investigated and a response provided within thirty (30) calendar days from the date the grievance was appealed to the Department of Administrative Services.
(3) If the Department of Administrative Services Labor Relations Unit’s response did not respond to the complaint or did not address whether the complaint process was followed, the Union may, within fifteen (15) calendar days, file an arbitration request with the Department of Administrative Services and send a copy to the Employment Relations Board asking for a list of seven
Health and Safety Representative Meetings A Health and Safety Representative will be allowed reasonable paid time during working hours to attend to on the job occupational health and safety matters affecting Employees he/she represents providing that the Representative informs their manager and agreement is reached. At all other times the Representative will perform productive work within his/her range of qualifications and competencies.
Labor-Management Cooperation When an Appointing Authority initiates a planning process or management study which is anticipated to result in layoff, the Appointing Authority will meet and confer with the Local Union during the decision planning phase and again during the implementation planning phase. The Appointing Authority and the Local Union shall enter into negotiations regarding a Memoranda of Understanding upon request of either party to modify this Agreement regarding the implementation plans which shall include, but are not limited to, the following: • Length of layoff notice; • Job and retraining opportunities; • Alternative placement methods; • Early retirement options pursuant to M.S. 43A.24, Subd. 2(i); • Bumping/vacancy options for part-time employees to preserve their insurance eligibility or contribution; and • Other methods of mitigating layoff or their effect on employees.
Training and Professional Development 11.1 The Employer will develop and maintain an employee training and development plan and provide such plan to the Union upon request. Staff training is intended to provide an opportunity for classified staff employees for training sponsored by the University Training and Development and the UW Medical Centers Organizational Development and Training. Education/Professional Leave is intended to facilitate employee access to continuing education opportunities. Training and educational/professional leave may be used for the purpose of improving job performance, maintaining and increasing proficiency, preparing staff for greater responsibility, or increasing promotional opportunities within the framework of staff positions available at the University.
11.2 Any release time for training for employees accepted for such classes shall be in accordance with the Executive Order (currently No. 52) governing this matter. In the event that two or more employees request the same training period and supervision must limit the number of persons who may participate at one time due to work requirements, the selection will be made on a mutually agreeable basis within the department.
11.3 The training program is a proper subject for discussion by either departmental or University-wide Joint Union/Management Committees.
11.4 If the Employer requires an employee to receive training, reimbursement will be provided in accordance with the University travel rules. Employee attendance at Employer required training, either during or outside working hours, will be considered time worked and compensated in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
11.5 Employee attendance at training not required by the Employer and not covered by Executive Order 52, either on approved leave from or outside of working hours, will be voluntary and not considered time worked.
LABOR/MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES A. Statewide
Investigatory Leave The Appointing Authority/designee may place an employee who is the subject of a disciplinary investigation on an investigatory leave with pay provided a reasonable basis exists to warrant such leave.
Labour Management Committee (a) Where the parties mutually agree that there are matters of mutual concern and interest that would be beneficial if discussed at a Labour Management Committee Meeting during the term of this Agreement, the following shall apply.
(b) An equal number of representatives of each party as mutually agreed shall meet at a time and place mutually satisfactory. A request for a meeting hereunder will be made in writing prior to the date proposed and accompanied by an agenda of matters proposed to be discussed, which shall not include matters that are properly the subject of grievance or negotiations for the amendment or renewal of this agreement. Any representative(s) attending such meetings during their regularly scheduled hours of work shall not lose regular earnings as a result of such attendance.
(c) It is agreed that the topic of a rehabilitation program for drug and alcohol abuse is an appropriate topic for the Labour-Management Committee. It is also agreed that the topic of the utilization of full-time and part-time staff is an appropriate topic for the Labour-Management Committee. The committee shall have access to work schedules and job postings upon request.
(d) It is understood that joint meetings with other Labour-Management Committees in the Hospital may be scheduled concerning issues of mutual interest if satisfactory to all concerned.
(e) Where two or more agreements exist between a Hospital and CUPE the Committee may be a joint one representing employees under both agreements, unless otherwise agreed.
