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) ▇▇▇▇▇▇’▇ FLRA Books (2) ▇▇▇▇▇▇’▇ 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) ▇▇▇▇▇▇’▇ FLRA Books (2) ▇▇▇▇▇▇’▇ 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.