Master Agreement between the Department of Veteran …

1 Master Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairsand the American Federation of Government Employees2011 VA Pamphlet 05-68 MARCH 2011 P70450 AFGE NVAC/AFL-CIO AFFILIATED WITH AFL CIO VAP 05-068 P70450 PLACEHOLDERMASTER Agreement between the Department OF VETERANS AFFAIRS and the AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES 2011 Department of Veterans Affairs Labor Management Relations | DVA /AFGE Master AgreementiiiTABLE OF CONTENTSP reamble.

2 ViiIntroduction ..1 ARTICLE 1 - RECOGNITION AND COVERAGE ..3 ARTICLE 2 - GOVERNING LAWS AND REGULATIONS ..6 Labor-Management Collaboration ..7 ARTICLE 3 - LABOR-MANAGEMENT COOPERATION ..9 ARTICLE 4 - LABOR-MANAGEMENT TRAINING ..12 ARTICLE 5 - LABOR-MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ..17 ARTICLE 6 - ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION ..18 ARTICLE 7 - QUALITY PROGRAMS ..21 Employee Rights and Privileges ..33 ARTICLE 8 - CHILD CARE ..35 ARTICLE 9 - CLASSIFICATION ..37 ARTICLE 10 - COMPETENCE ..40 ARTICLE 11 - CONTRACTING OUT ..41 ARTICLE 12 - DETAILS AND TEMPORARY PROMOTIONS.

3 42 ARTICLE 13 - REASSIGNMENT, SHIFT CHANGES, AND RELOCATIONS ..46 ARTICLE 14 - DISCIPLINE AND ADVERSE ACTION ..50 ARTICLE 15 - EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE ..54 ARTICLE 16 - EMPLOYEE AWARDS AND RECOGNITION ..56 ARTICLE 17 - EMPLOYEE RIGHTS ..60 ARTICLE 18 - EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ..66 ARTICLE 19 - FITNESS FOR DUTY ..73 ARTICLE 20 - TELEWORK ..76 ARTICLE 21 - HOURS OF WORK AND OVERTIME ..85 TABLE OF CONTENTS Department of Veterans Affairs Labor Management Relations | DVA /AFGE Master AgreementivARTICLE 22 - INVESTIGATIONS ..95 ARTICLE 23 - MERIT PROMOTION ..97 ARTICLE 24 - OFFICIAL RECORDS.

4 115 ARTICLE 25 - OFFICIAL TRAVEL ..117 ARTICLE 26 - PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION ..122 ARTICLE 27 - PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL ..124 ARTICLE 28 - REDUCTION IN FORCE ..137 ARTICLE 29 - SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ENVIRONMENT ..144 ARTICLE 30 - OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ..171 ARTICLE 31 - SILENT MONITORING ..176 ARTICLE 32 - STAFF LOUNGES ..177 ARTICLE 33 - TEMPORARY, PART-TIME, AND PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES ..178 ARTICLE 34 - JOB SHARING ..185 ARTICLE 35 - TIME AND LEAVE ..187 ARTICLE 36 - TIMELY AND PROPER COMPENSATION ..206 ARTICLE 37 - TRAINING AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT ..207 ARTICLE 38 - UNIFORMS.

5 210 ARTICLE 39 - UPWARD MOBILITY ..212 ARTICLE 40 - WITHIN-GRADE INCREASES AND PERIODIC STEP INCREASES ..214 ARTICLE 41 - WORKERS COMPENSATION ..220 Union Rights and Privileges ..225 ARTICLE 42 - AFFILIATIONS ..227 ARTICLE 43 - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE ..228 ARTICLE 44 - ARBITRATION ..234 ARTICLE 45 - DUES WITHHOLDING ..236 ARTICLE 46 - LOCAL SUPPLEMENT ..240 ARTICLE 47 - MID-TERM BARGAINING ..242 ARTICLE 48 - OFFICIAL TIME ..245 ARTICLE 49 - RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ..250 ARTICLE 50 - SURVEILLANCE ..254 ARTICLE 51 - USE OF OFFICIAL FACILITIES ..255 Employee Rights and Privileges (continued)TABLE OF CONTENTS Department of Veterans Affairs Labor Management Relations | DVA /AFGE Master AgreementvTitle 38.

6 259 ARTICLE 52 - TITLE 38 ADVANCEMENT ..261 ARTICLE 53 - CLINICAL RESEARCH ..262 ARTICLE 54 - TITLE 38 NURSE PAY/SURVEY ..263 ARTICLE 55 - VHA PHYSICIAN AND DENTIST PAY ..265 ARTICLE 56 - TITLE 38 HYBRIDS ..273 ARTICLE 57 - PHYSICAL STANDARDS BOARD ..282 ARTICLE 58 - PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS BOARD ..285 ARTICLE 59 - PROFICIENCY ..286 ARTICLE 60 - TITLE 38 REPRESENTATION AT BOARDS OR HEARINGS ..287 ARTICLE 61 - TITLE 38 VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS ..288 ARTICLE 62 - VETERANS CANTEEN SERVICE ..289 General Provisions ..291 ARTICLE 63 - RESEARCH GRANTS ..293 ARTICLE 64 - RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS.

7 294 ARTICLE 65 - WAGE SURVEYS ..296 ARTICLE 66 - TECHNOLOGY FOR ADMINISTERING, TRACKING, AND MEASURING VBA WORK ..297 Duration of Agreement ..299 Index ..305 PREAMBLEPREAMBLED epartment of Veterans Affairs Labor Management Relations | DVA /AFGE Master AgreementixSection - 1 This Master Agreement is made between the Department of Veterans Affairs (the Department ) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) National Veterans Affairs Council of Locals (the Union) .Section - 2 The Department and the Union agree that a constructive and cooperative working relationship between labor and management is essential to achieving the Department s mission and to ensuring a quality work environment for all employees.

8 The parties recognize that this relationship must be built on a solid foundation of trust, mutual respect, and a shared responsibility for organizational success . Therefore, the parties agree to work together using partnership principles, Labor-Management Forums, and the Master Agreement to identify problems and craft solutions, enhance productivity, and deliver the best quality of service to the nation s veterans .PLACEHOLDERINTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION | ARTICLE 1 - RECOGNITION AND COVERAGE Department of Veterans Affairs Labor Management Relations | DVA /AFGE Master Agreement3 ARTICLE 1 - RECOGNITION AND COVERAGE Section 1 - Exclusive RepresentativeAFGE is recognized as the sole and exclusive representative for all of those previously certified nonprofessional and professional employees, full-time, part-time, and temporary, in units consolidated and certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) in Certificate No.

9 22-08518 (UC), dated February 28, 1980, and any subsequent amendments or certifications . The parties agree that should AFGE request the FLRA to include subsequently organized employees in the consolidated unit, such FLRA certification will not be opposed by the Department if the unit would otherwise be considered an appropriate unit under the law . Upon certification of FLRA, such groupings automatically come under this Agreement .Section 2 - AFGE RoleAs the sole and exclusive representative, the Union is entitled to act for and to negotiate agreements covering all employees in the bargaining unit.

10 The Union is responsible for representing the interests of all employees in the bargaining unit .Section 3 - Employee RepresentationA . The Department recognizes that, as the exclusive representative of employees in the bargaining unit, the Union has the right to speak for and to bargain on behalf of the employees it represents . The Department will not bypass the Union by entering into any formal discussions or agreements with other employee organizations or bargaining unit employees concerning all matters affecting personnel policies, practices, or working conditions . The Department will not assist or sponsor any labor organization other than AFGE in any matter related to grievances, collective bargaining, or conditions of employment of employees in the AFGE bargaining unit.