Article 24
Labor/Management Committee Process
24.1 The State and PEF have an interest in maximizing the effectiveness of operations, the delivery of quality services and the promotion of a satisfied work force. To further this interest, the parties endorse the labor/management committee process as an appropriate means to identify and understand workplace issues and develop viable solutions. The State and PEF intend to foster an ongoing, communicative relationship in which the parties are encouraged to speak freely and resolve issues within the labor/management forum. The State and PEF shall cooperate in using training and other mutually agreed upon methods, within available resources, to assist agency and local level labor/management committees to be more effective.
24.2 The Director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations or the Director's designees shall meet with the President of PEF or the President's designees at mutually agreed upon times to discuss and attempt to resolve matters of mutual concern. At the request of the other party, each party shall submit a written agenda at least seven days in advance of the meeting. Meetings shall be held at least quarterly, subject to the agenda for any such meeting having been mutually agreed upon in advance.
The topics for
this forum may include but will not be limited to total quality management methods,
centralized travel management, expedited travel reimbursement, and issues
referred by agency and local level labor/management committees.
24.3 Department or Agency Heads, or their designees, shall meet with PEF representatives periodically to discuss and attempt to resolve matters of mutual concern. Such meetings shall be held at times mutually agreed to but shall be held no less frequently than twice each year. Subjects which may be discussed at such meetings may include, but are not limited to: questions concerning implementation and administration of this Agreement which are department or agency-wide in nature, continuity of employment, institution of alternative work schedules, staff development and training issues, distribution and posting of Civil Service examination announcements, ridesharing/carpooling initiatives and other matters as mutually agreed. Written agenda shall be exchanged by the parties no less than seven days before the scheduled date of each meeting. At the time of the meeting additional subjects for discussion may be placed on the agenda by mutual agreement.
An agency-level labor/management committee which has reviewed an issue but has been unable to agree on the disposition of that issue shall refer that issue to the State-level labor/management committee established in accordance with Section 24.2 above.
24.4 Facility or Institution Heads, or their designees, shall meet with PEF representatives periodically to discuss and attempt to resolve matters of mutual concern. Such meetings shall be held at times mutually agreed to but shall be held no less frequently than twice each year. Subjects which may be discussed at such meetings may include, but are not limited to: questions concerning implementation and administration of this Agreement which are local in nature, questions concerning the scheduling of employee workdays within the established workweek, distribution and posting of Civil Service examination announcements, continuity of employment, institution of alternative workweek schedules, staff development and training issues and other matters as mutually agreed. Written agenda shall be exchanged by the parties no less than seven days before the scheduled date of each meeting. At the time of the meeting additional subjects for discussion may be placed on the agenda by mutual agreement.
A local-level labor/management committee which has reviewed an issue but has been unable to agree on the disposition of that issue shall refer that issue to the appropriate agency-level labor/management committee established in accordance with Section 24.3 above.
24.5 The results
of a labor/management meeting held pursuant to this Article shall not
contravene any term or provision of this Agreement or exceed the authority of
the management at the level at which the meeting occurs. The results of such
meetings may, by mutual agreement, be placed in writing in the form of
memoranda or correspondence between the parties, but such results shall not
be subject to the provisions of Article 34, Grievance and Arbitration Procedure. Any written labor/management agreement
shall specify a finite term for the agreement.
Additionally, any such agreement shall specify procedures for ending the
agreement prior to the expiration of its term, and procedures, if any, for
renewal following expiration. The
results of labor/management meetings,
including written labor/management agreements, shall not be subject to the
provisions of Article 34, Grievance and Arbitration Procedure.
Disputes arising from an alleged failure to comply with a local-level labor/management agreement shall be referred to the appropriate agency-level labor/management committee for resolution. Such disputes that are not resolved by the agency-level labor/management committee, and disputes arising from an alleged failure to comply with an agency-level labor/management agreement, shall be referred to the State-level labor/management committee for resolution.