Common use of Use of Official Facilities and Services Clause in Contracts

Use of Official Facilities and Services. within 30 calendar days after approval of this Agreement to discuss providing the space and equipment. Use of surplus equipment including computers is a matter for local negotiations. C. Reference Material - Upon request, the local facility will assist Union officials in how to access VA policies, handbooks, rules, and regulations. If available, the local facility will allow Union officials access to current research materials including: (1) Xxxxxx’x FLRA Books (2) Xxxxxx’x MSPB Books D. The Employer agrees to provide the following to each Local: (1) Access to conference rooms upon reasonable advance request by the Union, normally 15 days; (2) Access to facility public address system; (3) Access to VANTS, V-tel, audio/visual equipment; (4) Access to photocopiers; (5) Access to training on new technology and computer software upgrades; and (6) Access to interoffice mail and metered mail pertaining to representational matters. The Local shall not utilize metered mail for mass mailing. E. If the negotiated Union space and/or equipment is required for immediate needs of the facility, the Employer agrees to provide as much advance notice as possible, normally 60 calendar days, and to negotiate with the Union to the maximum extent allowed by law. Section 2 The Employer recognizes the importance of the position of VA Council President. At the facility where the Council President is located, he/she will have an office to ensure privacy and will also be provided a desk, chair, two locking file cabinets, computer, laser printer and speaker phone with FTS. Section 3 The Employer agrees to annually furnish the NFFE National Union and the VA Council a current list of all employees in the bargaining unit, showing name, position title and official duty station. Updated lists will be provided as necessary. Section 4 At each facility, the Local will be provided bulletin board(s) in an area used for communicating with bargaining unit employees. The number and location of bulletin board(s) will be determined locally. The material posted must be clearly identified as that of the Union and must not be defamatory, scurrilous, or inflammatory. Section 5 Upon request, the Employer agrees to permit each local Union the opportunity to conduct quarterly membership drives and provide adequate facilities in a location that allows for unrestricted access to unit employees during breaks, lunch times and before and after work. Details for membership drives are subject to local negotiations. Section 6 When travel to another location within the jurisdiction of a Local is necessary for representational purposes consistent with the provisions of this Agreement and law, the local Union officials will be provided transportation on a space available basis. When a local representative uses a privately-owned vehicle because of the unavailability of a government vehicle, travel reimbursement will be made consistent with travel regulations if the activity is pre-approved. A. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the Employer will post the text of the Agreement on the VA Office of Human Resources Management and Labor Relations web page and distribute a copy of the Agreement by e-mail to each facility Director and HR Manager where the Union represents employees. B. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the president of the NFFE National VA Council will distribute an electronic copy of the Agreement to each local president. C. The Employer will arrange for printing and distribution of the printed Agreement. The NFFE VA Council will receive 50 copies of the Agreement. Each Local will receive sufficient printed Agreements to distribute to each current bargaining unit employee. During new employee orientation, local management will distribute a printed copy to each new employee covered by this Agreement. ARTICLE 10: PARTNERSHIP/COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS Section 1: Purpose A. Partnership/collaborative relationships involve the design, implementation, and maintenance of a cooperative working relationship between the Union and the Employer through pre-decisional involvement in order to achieve common goals. B. The Employer and Union officials at the appropriate level will jointly determine the structure, nature, scope, and operation of these relationships. All partnerships will use consensus decision-making.

Use of Official Facilities and Services. Section 1 The Employer recognizes the value of a constructive labor-management relationship and the need for Locals to have adequate office space and equipment necessary to perform their representational functions as the exclusive representative of employees in the bargaining unit. The following conditions will apply to the use of space and equipment: Such use will not injure the space and equipment and the space and equipment will be subject to the facility’s sanitation and safety inspection program. A. Office Space - The Employer agrees to furnish office space to the Union appropriate for carrying out its representational duties in locations easily accessible to employees. Space currently provided to a NFFE Local will be maintained as needed. The Employer will provide each Local at a minimum the following equipment: (1) Two standard locking file cabinets (2) A standard desk and/or table (3) Four chairs (4) A telephone line with FTS including speaker phone capability (5) Fax machine B. Equipment - The Employer also agrees to provide each Local at a minimum the following: (1) Computer (2) Laser printer (3) Word processing software (4) Access to E-mail (5) VA Intranet and Internet for representational purposes The Employer agrees that the equipment provided above will be functional and operational. The Employer also agrees to provide normal maintenance necessary to ensure all equipment is operational. The Parties agree that this equipment may be used for labor-management representational communications. The Parties agree that inappropriate use may result in individual termination of access. If appropriate, local Union and management representatives may meet within 30 calendar days after approval of this Agreement to discuss providing the space and equipment. Use of surplus equipment including computers is a matter for local negotiations. C. Reference Material - Upon request, the local facility will assist Union officials in how to access VA policies, handbooks, rules, and regulations. If available, the local facility will allow Union officials access to current research materials including: (1) Xxxxxx’x FLRA Books (2) Xxxxxx’x MSPB Books D. The Employer agrees to provide the following to each Local: (1) Access to conference rooms upon reasonable advance request by the Union, normally 15 days; (2) Access to facility public address system; (3) Access to VANTS, V-tel, audio/visual equipment; (4) Access to photocopiers; (5) Access to training on new technology and computer software upgrades; and (6) Access to interoffice mail and metered mail pertaining to representational matters. The Local shall not utilize metered mail for mass mailing. E. If the negotiated Union space and/or equipment is required for immediate needs of the facility, the Employer agrees to provide as much advance notice as possible, normally 60 calendar days, and to negotiate with the Union to the maximum extent allowed by law. Section 2 The Employer recognizes the importance of the position of VA Council President. At the facility where the Council President is located, he/she will have an office to ensure privacy and will also be provided a desk, chair, two locking file cabinets, computer, laser printer and speaker phone with FTS. Section 3 The Employer agrees to annually furnish the NFFE National Union and the VA Council a current list of all employees in the bargaining unit, showing name, position title and official duty station. Updated lists will be provided as necessary. Section 4 At each facility, the Local will be provided bulletin board(s) in an area used for communicating with bargaining unit employees. The number and location of bulletin board(s) will be determined locally. The material posted must be clearly identified as that of the Union and must not be defamatory, scurrilous, or inflammatory. Section 5 Upon request, the Employer agrees to permit each local Union the opportunity to conduct quarterly membership drives and provide adequate facilities in a location that allows for unrestricted access to unit employees during breaks, lunch times and before and after work. Details for membership drives are subject to local negotiations. Section 6 When travel to another location within the jurisdiction of a Local is necessary for representational purposes consistent with the provisions of this Agreement and law, the local Union officials will be provided transportation on a space available basis. When a local representative uses a privately-owned vehicle because of the unavailability of a government vehicle, travel reimbursement will be made consistent with travel regulations if the activity is pre-approved. A. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the Employer will post the text of the Agreement on the VA Office of Human Resources Management and Labor Relations web page and distribute a copy of the Agreement by e-mail to each facility Director and HR Manager where the Union represents employees. B. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the president of the NFFE National VA Council will distribute an electronic copy of the Agreement to each local president. C. The Employer will arrange for printing and distribution of the printed Agreement. The NFFE VA Council will receive 50 copies of the Agreement. Each Local will receive sufficient printed Agreements to distribute to each current bargaining unit employee. During new employee orientation, local management will distribute a printed copy to each new employee covered by this Agreement. ARTICLE 10: PARTNERSHIP/COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS Section 1: Purpose A. Partnership/collaborative relationships involve the design, implementation, and maintenance of a cooperative working relationship between the Union and the Employer through pre-decisional involvement in order to achieve common goals. B. The Employer and Union officials at the appropriate level will jointly determine the structure, nature, scope, and operation of these relationships. All partnerships will use consensus decision-making.

Use of Official Facilities and Services. within 30 calendar days after approval of this Agreement to discuss providing the space and equipment1. Use of surplus equipment including computers is a matter for local negotiations. C. Reference Material - Upon request, the local facility will assist Union officials in how to access VA policies, handbooks, rules, and regulations. If available, the local facility will allow Union officials access to current research materials includingSPACE/CABINETS/DESKS FOR UNION REPRESENTATIVES IN EACH OFFICE: (1) Xxxxxx’x FLRA Books (2) Xxxxxx’x MSPB Books D. a. The Employer agrees to provide one desk or workstation per office for use by Union representatives who have not been assigned a permanent desk. b. The Employer shall identify existing and available bar lock cabinets. In agencies where available cabinets exist, the following Employer will provide the designated representative one cabinet with a minimum of two drawers. In Agencies where no existing cabinets are available, and there is a designated representative, the Employer shall provide a two drawer cabinet. In both cases the Employer and designated Union representative shall work together to each Local:identify a mutually agreeable location for cabinet placement. In offices where the Union Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, or Chief Xxxxxxx work, the Employer shall provide one additional two-drawer cabinet. c. On a space available basis, the Employer will provide the Union with space for Union meetings of bargaining unit members who are in a non-duty status. Requests for use of space for meetings must be initiated in advance. The Union will provide a minimum of two (12) Access working days notice prior to conference rooms the meeting so that the availability of the space may be determined. This space will be provided at a time when security requirements would not cause additional managerial hours to be worked, or when additional costs would not be incurred. When security requirements conflict, an alternate time or location for the meeting will be established. d. The Employer acknowledges that it is desirable for the Union representative to have access to space which is reasonably private to conduct meetings with bargaining unit employees and conduct other required representational duties. Where the Employer has such space available, it will be made available to the representative to the extent feasible. Depending upon reasonable advance request the situation this space may be assigned indefinitely or temporarily. e. The Union understands that the Employer has the right to preempt for their use space previously provided to or reserved by the Union. When the Employer determines the need to relocate or temporarily preempt for its own use space previously used or reserved by the Union, normally 15 days;the Employer's representative and the appropriate Union official will negotiate on the change, attempting alternative arrangements to provide not less than the previous amount of space. (2) Access f. The Union will comply with all Employer security and GSA building management regulations with respect to facility public address system;its use of any facilities. (3) Access g. The Union agrees to VANTSexercise reasonable care in using such space, V-tel, audio/visual equipment; (4) Access to photocopiers; (5) Access to training on new technology and computer software upgrades; and (6) Access to interoffice mail will leave it in a clean and metered mail pertaining to representational mattersorderly condition. The Local shall not utilize metered mail for mass mailing. E. If the negotiated Union understands that its failure to leave space and/or equipment is required for immediate needs of the facility, the Employer agrees to provide as much advance notice as possible, normally 60 calendar days, and to negotiate with the Union to the maximum extent allowed by law. Section 2 The Employer recognizes the importance of the position of VA Council President. At the facility where the Council President is located, he/she will have an office to ensure privacy and will also be provided a desk, chair, two locking file cabinets, computer, laser printer and speaker phone with FTS. Section 3 The Employer agrees to annually furnish the NFFE National Union and the VA Council a current list of all employees in the bargaining unit, showing name, position title and official duty station. Updated lists will be provided as necessary. Section 4 At each facility, the Local will be provided bulletin board(s) in an area used for communicating with bargaining unit employees. The number and location of bulletin board(s) will be determined locally. The material posted must be clearly identified as that of the Union and must not be defamatory, scurrilous, or inflammatory. Section 5 Upon request, the Employer agrees to permit each local Union the opportunity to conduct quarterly membership drives and provide adequate facilities in a location that allows clean and orderly condition would be cause for unrestricted access to unit employees during breaks, lunch times and before and after work. Details for membership drives are subject to local negotiations. Section 6 When travel to another location within the jurisdiction of a Local is necessary for representational purposes consistent with the provisions suspension or termination of this Agreement and law, the local Union officials will be provided transportation on a space available basis. When a local representative uses a privately-owned vehicle because of the unavailability of a government vehicle, travel reimbursement will be made consistent with travel regulations if the activity is pre-approvedprivilege. A. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the Employer will post the text of the Agreement on the VA Office of Human Resources Management and Labor Relations web page and distribute a copy of the Agreement by e-mail to each facility Director and HR Manager where the Union represents employees. B. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the president of the NFFE National VA Council will distribute an electronic copy of the Agreement to each local president. C. The Employer will arrange for printing and distribution of the printed Agreement. The NFFE VA Council will receive 50 copies of the Agreement. Each Local will receive sufficient printed Agreements to distribute to each current bargaining unit employee. During new employee orientation, local management will distribute a printed copy to each new employee covered by this Agreement. ARTICLE 10: PARTNERSHIP/COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS Section 1: Purpose A. Partnership/collaborative relationships involve the design, implementation, and maintenance of a cooperative working relationship between the Union and the Employer through pre-decisional involvement in order to achieve common goals. B. The Employer and Union officials at the appropriate level will jointly determine the structure, nature, scope, and operation of these relationships. All partnerships will use consensus decision-making.

Use of Official Facilities and Services. within 30 calendar days after approval The Employer may permit reasonable use of this Agreement Employer resources and equipment as noted below for Labor-Management purposes to discuss providing the extent such use is authorized under applicable laws and directives. Section 2. The Employer recognizes the value of a constructive labor-management relationship and the need for the Union to be provided space that is sufficient for the Union to properly represent the employees in its bargaining unit. The Employer will make available suitable space for conducting confidential meetings with employees. Section 3. Any use of the computer must be for representational use of the Union and be in accordance with security provisions of the APHIS directives and USDA computer use agreements. Use of e-mail may not be scurrilous, libelous, or in violation of national security. Also, the Union acknowledges that such use of the e-mail system is not confidential and privacy is not insured. Union representatives are authorized to use the system(s) for labor-management relations matters. Inappropriate use may result in individual termination of access. The following conditions will apply to the use of space and equipment: A. Such use will not injure the space and equipment. Use of surplus equipment including computers is a matter for local negotiationsin question. B. The space and equipment will be subject to the facility's sanitation and safety inspection program. C. Reference Material - Upon request, the local facility Conference rooms will assist Union officials be made available when requested in how to access VA policies, handbooks, rules, and regulations. If available, the local facility will allow Union officials access to current research materials including: advance at least five (15) Xxxxxx’x FLRA Books (2) Xxxxxx’x MSPB Booksworking days. D. The Employer agrees to will provide a three drawer locking filing cabinet located in the following to each Local: (1) Access to conference rooms upon reasonable advance request by the Union, normally 15 days; (2) Access to facility public address system; (3) Access to VANTS, V-tel, audio/visual equipment; (4) Access to photocopiers; (5) Access to training on new technology and computer software upgrades; and (6) Access to interoffice mail and metered mail pertaining to representational matters. The Local shall not utilize metered mail APHIS VSPR Carolina office area for mass mailingretention of Union files. E. If Section 4. In addition to the negotiated above, the Union space and/or will be authorized the use of copy machines, computers, and fax machines at reasonable times when this equipment is required not otherwise being used for immediate needs normal business. Their use will be limited to communications that are of mutual benefit, such as those necessary for grievance processing or communication between the Union and the Employer. This does not prohibit the Union from being authorized the use of surplus equipment or negotiating for additional access to equipment. Section 5. Union representatives may use the facility telephone service for local labor-management activities so long as it does not interfere with the primary official business of the facility, the Employer agrees to provide as much advance notice as possible, normally 60 calendar days, and to negotiate with the Union to the maximum extent allowed by law. Section 2 6. The Employer recognizes Union and its representatives may use the importance of internal messenger system for regular representational communications (e.g., grievance correspondence or letters and memoranda to the position of VA Council President. At the facility where the Council President is located, he/she will have an office to ensure privacy and will also be provided a desk, chair, two locking file cabinets, computer, laser printer and speaker phone with FTSEmployer). Section 3 7. The Employer agrees to annually furnish arrange for printing of this Agreement. New employees covered by this Agreement will, during in-processing, be offered a printed copy and advised where a copy may be reviewed electronically if available. Current bargaining unit employees will receive a copy of the NFFE National Agreement from the facility if requested, and will be advised that it will be available through existing electronic networks for review. Section 8. The Union and the VA Council a current list of all employees in the bargaining unit, showing name, position title and official duty station. Updated lists will be provided as necessary. Section 4 At each facility, the Local will be provided a bulletin board(s) board and/or official bulletin board space in an area areas normally used for communicating with bargaining unit employees. The number Each bulletin board will contain a minimal space equivalent to two 8 1/2" by 11" sheets of paper to be reserved for Union use and location of bulletin board(s) may be sectioned off and identified as Union space. Consistent with fire and safety regulations, they will be determined locallyglass enclosed and lockable with a key. The material posted must be clearly identified as that of the Union and must not be defamatory, scurrilous, scurrilous or inflammatorylibelous. Section 5 Upon request, the Employer agrees to permit each local Union the opportunity to conduct quarterly membership drives and provide adequate facilities in a location that allows for unrestricted access to unit employees during breaks, lunch times and before and after work. Details for membership drives are subject to local negotiations. Section 6 When travel to another location within the jurisdiction of a Local is necessary for representational purposes consistent with the provisions of this Agreement and law, the local Union officials will be provided transportation on a space available basis. When a local representative uses a privately-owned vehicle because of the unavailability of a government vehicle, travel reimbursement will be made consistent with travel regulations if the activity is pre-approved. A. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the Employer will post the text of the Agreement on the VA Office of Human Resources Management and Labor Relations web page and distribute a copy of the Agreement by e-mail to each facility Director and HR Manager where the Union represents employees. B. Within 30 calendar days after this Agreement is approved, the president of the NFFE National VA Council will distribute an electronic copy of the Agreement to each local president. C. The Employer will arrange for printing and distribution of the printed Agreement. The NFFE VA Council will receive 50 copies of the Agreement. Each Local will receive sufficient printed Agreements to distribute to each current bargaining unit employee. During new employee orientation, local management will distribute a printed copy to each new employee covered by this Agreement. ARTICLE 10: PARTNERSHIP/COLLABORATIVE RELATIONSHIPS Section 1: Purpose A. Partnership/collaborative relationships involve the design, implementation, and maintenance of a cooperative working relationship between the Union and the Employer through pre-decisional involvement in order to achieve common goals. B. The Employer and Union officials at the appropriate level will jointly determine the structure, nature, scope, and operation of these relationships. All partnerships will use consensus decision-making.