Common use of LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEES Clause in Contracts

LABOR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEES. The parties will establish Labor-Management Relations Committees (LMRCs) in accordance with the provisions of this Article. They will give consideration to: areas of pre-decisional input; the prevention and resolution of misunderstandings and grievances; working conditions, personnel policies and practices; the promotion of good employee- supervisor relationships; the strengthening of morale; etc. All LMRCs are solely for the purpose of exchanging views and information and shall be deemed a supplement to negotiations as defined by the Civil Service Reform Act, not a substitute. However, the parties recognize that issues unresolved in these meetings potentially can be addressed in grievances, mid-term bargaining and other traditional representational forums. Section 1. National Labor-Management Forum. A. A national Labor Management Forum (LMF) will meet two (2) times per calendar year for no more than two (2) working days at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Headquarters facilities. Additional meetings may be held, by mutual consent, at such other times as deemed necessary. Fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the scheduled date of the meeting, the parties will exchange anticipated agenda items. Matters not on the agenda can be discussed by mutual consent. B. The Union will have five (5) attendees from the bargaining unit present. These five (5) unit members will receive official time for the meeting as well as the time necessary to travel to and from the meeting. National LMF bargaining unit members will be reimbursed travel and per diem in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations. The national LMF bargaining unit members may be joined by National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) elected leaders and staff who are not CBP employees. C. By mutual agreement, a national LMF at the Assistant Commissioner level may be established. Section 2. National Work Groups. A. The national LMF may, by mutual agreement, establish work groups to analyze specific problems and propose solutions. Absent mutual agreement by the national LMF, a work group shall be comprised of no more than eight (8) members, i.e., four (4) representatives from NTEU and four (4) representatives from CBP. B. No later than seven (7) calendar days after the national LMF agreeing to establish a work group, CBP will provide NTEU the qualifications necessary to participate in a specific work group. Within seven (7) calendar days of receipt of qualifications from CBP, NTEU will provide employee nominations. C. The work groups proposed solutions will be presented to the national LMF for consideration. D. Where the Employer selects bargaining unit employees to serve on committees, work groups or projects to analyze work processes or problems, and such work is not normally assigned to all employees in a given position or location, the Employer will solicit from NTEU nominations of employees based on qualifications provided by the Employer. The Employer will select from the Union nominations, absent just cause.