UNION RIGHTS

UNION RIGHTS . . . NOTIFICATION REGARDING EMPLOYER CONFERENCES

Social Security Administration, Baltimore, Maryland and American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 01 FSIP 103, August 6, 2001 (Release No. 442).

The UNION proposed the following:

For conferences within a single component, where it is determined not to provide light refreshments, SSA will notify the appropriate AFGE component council pursuant to Article 4 of the National Agreement. The Union does not waive any rights to bargain that it may have under the FSLMRS, 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71, or the National Agreement.

For multi-component conferences where it is determined not [to] provide light refreshments, SSA will notify the Spokesperson, AFGE General Committee, pursuant to Article 4 of the National Agreement. The Union does not waive any rights to bargain that it may have under the FSLMRS, 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71, or the National Agreement.

The AGENCY proposed the following:

The FTRs, effective January 14, 2000, authorized travelers to be reimbursed for any registration/conference fee charged for the purpose of providing light refreshments. Therefore, SSA will reimburse travelers in accordance with the amended regulations.

In addition, when management determines that providing light refreshments is a necessary element of the conference/meeting, all attendees will be reimbursed if charged a registration/conference fee for the purpose of providing light refreshments. When no fee is charged, and a determination is made that light refreshments are necessary, all attendees will be entitled to refreshments as provided. Treating all participants equally may be conducive to morale and be administratively more convenient and efficient.

With respect to training conferences, when the determination is made that light refreshments are considered necessary, SSA will provide them at no charge to the attendee.

ARBITRATOR Donna M. DiTullio ordered the parties to adopt the AGENCY's final offer.

UNION RIGHTS . . . DISCUSS AGREEMENT WITH EMPLOYEES

Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Nashville, Tennessee and Chapter 270, National Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 01 FSIP 156, October 29, 2001 (Release No. 444).

The AGENCY proposed the following:

Management for Compliance Services and Accounts Management together with NTEU will jointly share the provisions of this agreement in team meetings. At the conclusion of each team meeting, NTEU will be given 10 minutes to discuss the agreement with employees outside the presence of management. This 10-minute period is for discussion of the underlying agreement only.

The UNION proposed the following:

Management has determined that immediately following the signing of this agreement NTEU will be given 20 minutes at the conclusion of each team meeting to review the terms and potential impact of this agreement.

ARBITRATOR Donna M. DiTullio ordered the parties to adopt the AGENCY's proposal.