Official Time Activities. The parties agree that patient care and support of patient care are the priorities of every Employee. Official time is time granted by the Employer to perform representational functions without charge to leave or loss of pay. The Union agrees that requests for Official Time will be consistent with the representational obligations of the Union and the needs of the mission of the agency. Official time is appropriate for the following activities:
a. When investigating, preparing, and/or presenting grievances in accordance with the negotiated grievance procedure and/or arbitration proceedings conducted under Articles 32 and 33 of this agreement.
b. When serving as an Employee’s representative (includes investigating, preparing and/or presenting issues) as allowed by applicable law, rule and/or regulations, for adverse action, disciplinary action, discrimination complaint, OWCP, or Unfair Labor Practice and/or other claims under applicable law, rule and/or regulations that concern or affect personnel policy or conditions of employment.
c. When conducting an investigation, preparing for or participating in formal discussions.
d. During preparation for and negotiation with management officials concerning changes to personnel policies, practices, and procedures affecting working conditions in accordance with Article 31 of this Agreement, applicable law, rule or regulation.
e. When attending meetings arranged and called by management officials.
f. When performing other functions for which official time is specifically authorized by the terms of this Agreement, applicable law, rule or regulation.
g. Attendance by Union representatives at training sessions sponsored by the Union that relates to their representational duties. Approval or denial of official time for training will be on a case-by- case basis. Such training normally will not exceed ten (10) work days for any individual per year unless otherwise agreed to by the Employer. An agenda or description of the training will be provided to the Employer as soon as possible in advance of the training, but no later than 30 days in advance.
h. Travel time if otherwise in a duty status in connection with the foregoing activities if approved in advance by the Employer.
Official Time Activities. The duly designated representatives identified in Section 2.a. will be allowed to use official time to conduct the activities listed below:
(a) Assist employees in preparing and presenting an employment concern under this Agreement or attempting to resolve a grievance or potential grievance.
(b) Representing the Union or employees at formal discussions or consultations between the Employer and an employee or employee representative concerning grievances, personnel policies and practices, or matters affecting working conditions of employees. Representatives may participate in formal discussions or consultations but may not disrupt the meeting or answer for the employee.
(c) The Parties agree that union attendance of duly designated union representatives at labor-management meetings to resolve disputes will be limited to the attendees necessary to have a full and xxxxx discussion of the matters involved and shall not exceed the number of persons representing the Employer except with the Employer’s permission. In grievance discussions, the Union will normally be represented by one representative.
(d) It is the Employer’s policy to permit duly designated union representatives for employees, at their request and at the following meetings called by the Employer:
1. informal grievances;
2. termination meetings for probationary and permanent employees;
3. meetings involving workplace problems when the employee has a reasonable belief that discipline may result from the meeting and requests representation;
4. confidential meetings concerning work-related health problems or the accommodation of a disability.
5. These meetings do not include confidential meetings concerning performance ratings or appraisals, supervisory counseling meetings, or conduct improvement meetings; but nothing in this section shall be understood to forbid a designated management official from consenting to the presence of a duly designated union representative at any such meeting, at the request of the employee.
(e) Representatives may utilize official time to serve on labor- management committees, forums or workgroups as established by the Employer or jointly established by the Parties.
(f) Official time may not be used for internal union business, such as the solicitation of dues deductions, the preparation and distribution of the Union newsletter, membership recruitment activities, campaigning and voting for union office, political or lobbying activities, furthering of the Union’s legisl...
Official Time Activities. The parties agree that patient care and support of patient care are the priorities of every Employee. Official time is time granted by the Employer to perform representational functions without charge to leave or loss of pay. The Union agrees that requests for Official Time will be consistent with the Statute and the provisions set forth in this Article and will not negatively impact the Agency’s mission. Official time is appropriate for the following activities:
