Article 38 Labor-Management Committee

Article 38 Labor-Management Committee

Section 38.1 Statement of Principle

The Union through its designated agents shall be entitled at the national, regional/area, and local levels, and at such other intermediate levels as may be appropriate, to participate in regularly scheduled Labor-Management Committee meetings for the purpose of discussing, exploring, and considering with management matters of mutual concern; provided neither party shall attempt to change, add to or vary the terms of this Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Section 38.2 Committee Meetings

1. At the national and regional/area levels, the Labor-Management Committees shall meet quarterly, unless additional meetings are scheduled by mutual agreement. Agenda items shall be exchanged at least 15 working days in advance of the scheduled meeting. National level agenda items include those of national concern such as human rights, technological and mechanization changes, subcontracting, jurisdiction, uniforms and work clothes, parking and other labor-management subjects. Regional/Area level agenda items include those of regional/area concern such as human rights and other labor-management subjects.
2. Union attendance at national level meetings shall be limited to no more than six (6) persons, not including secretarial staff. Union attendance at regional/area level meetings shall be limited to no more than three (3) persons, not including secretarial staff. If the Union requires technical assistance, such technical assistance shall be in addition to the numbers listed above.
3. Meetings at the national and regional/area (except as to the Christ- mas operation) levels will not be compensated by the Employer. The Employer will compensate one designated representative from the Union for actual time spent in the meeting at the applicable straight time rate, providing the time spent in such meetings is a part of the employee's regular scheduled work day.

   CIM

   With the exception of meetings dealing with the Christmas operation, the compensation provisions apply only for local Labor-Management Committee meetings.

4. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, Labor-Management Committee meetings will be separate from other unions.
5. Provided agenda items are submitted, Labor-Management Committee meetings shall be scheduled in all offices in accordance with the following criteria:
1. In offices with a total complement of 300 bargaining unit employees or more, meetings will be held once a month. Complement is defined in this Section as total number of employees currently on the rolls in the installation;
2. In offices with a complement of 100 to 299 bargaining unit employees, meetings will be held bi-monthly; and
3. In offices of less than 100 employees, meetings will be held quarterly.
6. Agenda items will be exchanged at least 72 hours prior to such meetings. Meetings shall be held at a time and date convenient to both parties. Where agenda items do not warrant a regularly scheduled meeting, discussions may take place by mutual agreement in lieu thereof.

   CIM

   Meeting frequency is determined by the complement of bargaining unit employees, including MHAs, in each office. Additionally, it is important that the time requirements for exchange of agenda items be adhered to so that full consideration can be given to submitted items. If agenda items do not warrant a regularly scheduled meeting, the parties can mutually agree to discuss issues of concern.

   Question: As a general rule, should management respond to all issues discussed at meetings of the labor-management committees?

   Answer: Yes. To maintain good labor-management relations, it is necessary for management to make every effort to respond to all issues discussed at labor- management committee meetings in as short a time as it practical.

   Source: Step 4 Grievance NC-S-11532, dated October 24, 1978.

Section 38.3 Christmas Operation

The policies to be established by management for the Christmas operation will be a subject of discussion at a timely regularly scheduled Labor-Management Committee meeting.

Section 38.4 Minutes

Minutes of local Labor-Management Committee meetings may be taken by each party.