FACILITIES
FACILITIES . . . ASSIGNMENT OF SPACE
Social Security Administration,
Fort Lauderdale East Field Office, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and
Council 220, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO,
Case No. 98 FSIP 170, March 15, 1999 (Release No. 418).
The AGENCY essentially proposed
that--
(1) [T]he multipurpose, or
employee break room, be located in interior space and that the
stockroom be placed at the rear of building with double doors
to the outside; (2) the manager's office be located at the front
corner of the office with the window overlooking the front parking
lot; and (3) the layout of the reception area follow the existing
floor plan, with the reception counter windows placed opposite
the front windows, and the public restrooms and private interview
room placed on the side, along an interior wall.
The UNION essentially proposed
that--
[T]he employee break room
be located at the rear of the space with windows installed along
the top of the back wall;
[T]he manager's office would
be placed 'elsewhere in the interior, allowing more windows and
natural light for the common area'; and
As for the reception area,
the Employer's proposed layout should be reversed so that the
public restrooms and private interview room are located directly
opposite the office's front window, and the reception counters
and moved to the side.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the AGENCY's final offers.
FACILITIES
. . . SIZE OF WOMEN'S LOCKER
Department of the Treasury,
Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C. and Chapters 65, 83,
and 251, National Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 99 FSIP
24, March 16, 1999 (Release No. 418).
The AGENCY proposed to "explore
and analyze bench configurations for the [New Carrollton Federal
Building] ladies' locker room."
The UNION proposed the following:
The Agency will expand the
women's locker room at the New Carrollton Federal Building fitness
center by doubling the size of the amount of open space available
for changing and doubling the length and width of benches with
no reduction in the existing space for showers, toilets, sinks,
and the number of lockers.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the AGENCY's proposal.
FACILITIES
. . . ASSIGNMENT OF SPACE
Department of Commerce,
Patent and Trademark Office, Arlington, Virginia and Patent Office
Professional Association, Case No. 99 FSIP 15, March 29, 1999
(Release No. 419).
The AGENCY proposed the following:
M141. The Office will use
best efforts to place distributed space (e.g., file rooms, pantries,
copy rooms, etc.) in interior space.
M3. The Office will use best
efforts to maximize the number of private, exterior offices.
The UNION proposed the following:
3b. The Office will use best
efforts to maximize the number of private exterior offices. Whenever
possible, all bargaining unit professionals of grade GS-14 and
above shall be placed in private exterior offices.
M141. The Office will use
best efforts to place distributed space (e.g., file rooms, pantries,
copy rooms, etc.) in interior spaces.
ARBITRATOR Mary E. Jacksteit
ordered the parties to adopt the AGENCY's proposals.
FACILITIES
. . . MAINTENANCE
Department of Commerce,
Patent and Trademark Office, Arlington, Virginia and Patent Office
Professional Association, Case No. 99 FSIP 15, March 29, 1999
(Release No. 419).
The AGENCY proposed the following:
M64a. All painted surfaces
in bargaining unit professionals' offices shall be repainted every
five years. The schedule of such repainting shall be discussed
in the quarterly meetings to be held between the Office of Administrative
Services and the unions.
M65a. A joint committee with
three representatives each from all three bargaining units and
management will be established to recommend three color schemes
to be used on alternate floors in the facility for paint, carpet
and trim for all private offices and common areas on given floors.
There will be a maximum of three color choices in the facility
and one color choice per floor.
This committee will report
to the Commissioner within 30 days after its first meeting with
its recommendation. After reporting, the committee will be disbanded.
The UNION proposed the following:
PLBO 65a. All painted surfaces
in bargaining unit professionals' offices shall be repainted every
five years subject to the following:
Professionals who are entitled
to a private, single occupancy office may refuse painting, except
in those rare instances in which the office is so dingy that painting
is necessary to maintain an appropriate public image for the PTO.
Such dingy offices will be repainted.
PLBO 65b. The PTO will use
best efforts to paint rooms at times of organizational moves,
so that a professional moving into a room previously used by another
will have a freshly painted room. And the painting can be accomplished
without an extra pack and unpack cycle. Rooms that look clean
need not be repainted.
PLBO 65c. The schedule of
painting shall be discussed between the parties to avoid disruptions
at times needed for concentration on productivity.
M65a. Same as above in Management
proposal.
ARBITRATOR Mary E. Jacksteit
ordered the parties to adopt the AGENCY's proposal.
FACILITIES
. . . OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Department of Justice, Federal
Bureau of Prisons, Federal Correctional Complex Coleman, Coleman,
Florida and Local 506, Council of Prison Locals C-33, American Federation
of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 99 FSIP 104, September
29, 1999 (Release No. 424.)
The UNION proposed the following:
Unit officers on all shifts
will be provided the following in their work area:
A. computer with LAN access;
B. typewriter compatible
to the unit secretary;
C. phone with outside line
capability.
The AGENCY proposed to "place
four computers with LAN access in the staff lounge and provide a
typewriter comparable to Unit Secretaries."
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the following:
Management shall place two
computers with LAN access in a Housing Unit at the medium security
facility of the Union's choice. Unless management permits otherwise,
the officers assigned to that Housing Unit shall access the computers
only during unpaid lunch periods. Management shall also provide
all unit officers with access to a typewriter in their work areas
comparable to those provided to Unit Secretaries.
FACILITIES
. . . OFFICE SPACE
Department of Agriculture,
Farm Service Agency, Stark County Office, Dickinson, North Dakota
and Local 888, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO,
Case No. 99 FSIP 125, November 8, 1999 (Release No. 426).
The AGENCY proposed an open
office design with no permanent walls between it and the other two
agencies that would also occupy the new building.
The UNION proposed that walls
be erected to separate the three agencies.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the AGENCY's proposal.
FACILITIES
. . . OFFICE SPACE
Department of Agriculture,
Farm Service Agency, Stark County Office, Dickinson, North Dakota
and Local 888, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO,
Case No. 99 FSIP 125, November 8, 1999 (Release No. 426).
The AGENCY proposed workstations
of 64 square feet for each employee, with an additional 61 square
feet of circulation area--a total of 125 square feet of work space.
The UNION proposed the following:
Each Technician, Credit Clerk,
and Program assistant will be provided a work station of 75 sq.
ft. plus a circulation area of 81 sq. ft. for a total allocation
of 156 sq. ft.; the 156 sq. ft. area does not include the reception
area, the conference room and the storage area; additional work
stations will be made available for two temporary employees, one
in the form of a 135 sq. ft. private office; in other offices,
additional space for temporary employees should be based on past
practice of hiring temporary help; where Agriculture Credit is
present, an additional office of 135 sq. ft. will be provided;
the circulation area in front of offices and around central workstations
will be 48 inches wide; interior aisles between workstations will
be 36 inches wide (approximately 680 sq. ft.); the reception area
will be 250 sq. ft.; storage area of 707 sq. ft.; offices to be
provided 50 sq. ft. storage space for each employee (storage space
to include all shelves, cabinets, files, safes, copiers, fax machines,
and printers); each private office will have a window.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the following:
General office space for
bargaining-unit employees shall be approximately 135 sq. ft. which
shall include the employee's workstation plus the circulation
area surrounding the workstation. Private offices occupied by
bargaining-unit employees will have at least one window. The parties
will negotiate a final floor plan once the outside dimensions
of the building are known, taking into consideration the overall
design of the office and additional space requirements (e.g.,
storage space, reception counter, aisle and corridor width).
FACILITIES
. . . FITNESS CENTER . . . FEES; SERVICE
Department of the Treasury,
Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C. and Chapters 65, 83,
and 251, National Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 99 FSIP
24, March 16, 1999 (Release No. 418).
The AGENCY proposed the following:
IRS provides site, utilities,
equipment, and equipment maintenance for duration of NORD V -through
6/30/02.
$210,000 annual subsidy for
employee memberships for duration of NORD V (7/98-6/30/02). $840,000
total contribution during NORD V.
Employee fee based on difference
between actual center costs (excluding rent, utilities, custodial,
equipment replacement) and $210,000 annual subsidy divided by
number of members.
Any surplus employee fees
to be used to reduce future employee fees.
Levels of service will be
adjusted to keep fees stable.
Employees will not be charged
retroactively for funding shortfalls.
The UNION proposed the following:
1. The Agency will provide
fitness center services to [bargaining unit] employees at 1111
Constitution Avenue and New Carrollton Federal Building at no
charge to the employees.
2. The Agency will continue
to provide fitness center services equal to or better than those
enumerated in the Agency's undated statement of work called Agency
Submission 2.
Chapters 83 and 251 proposed
the following alternative:
While the Union maintains
that the services for the above-referenced fitness centers should
have continued at no cost to employees, if the FSIP finds that
there will be a fee, the following provisions shall apply:
A) The monthly fee charged
to employees will not exceed $10 for employees at grades GS-10
and above and will not exceed $5 for employees at grades GS-9
and below. There will be no up-front fee imposed on any employee.
B) The above-referenced
rates will be guaranteed for the life of the NORD V agreement,
except as increased annually by no more than the annual comparability
rate (federal pay raise) under 5 USC 5303(b). E.g., if an employee's
monthly fee is $5 and a yearly Federal raise is for an increase
of 3 [percent] of salary, the Agency may impose no more than
a $0.15 monthly increase for that employee to be added to the
rate of $5 for that year.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the following:
The Employer shall provide
site, utilities, equipment and equipment maintenance.
Any surplus employee fees
will be used to reduce expense to Employer of providing fitness
centers.
The Employer will continue
to provide fitness center services at levels equal to or better
than those enumerated in the statement of work that the Employer
provided to Federal Occupational Health Service.
The monthly fee charged to
employees will be: $12 for employees at grades GS-11, WG-14, or
WL-12 and above; $6 for employees at grades GS-10, WG-13, or WL-11
and below. There will be no up-front fee imposed on any employee.
FACILITIES
. . . FITNESS CENTER . . . FEES PAYMENT METHODS
Department of the Treasury,
Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C. and Chapters 65, 83,
and 251, National Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 99 FSIP
24, March 16, 1999 (Release No. 418).
The AGENCY proposed to work
with the Federal Occupational Health Service, which operates the
fitness center and collects the fees, "to develop as many payment
plans as possible."
The UNION proposed the following:
The method of payment for
such fees shall at least consist of these options as follows:
1) pay in full by check
or money order
2) monthly payment by credit
card
3) monthly payment by check
or money order
4) internal transfer through
Agency credit union with copy of internal transfer as proof
of payment
5) payroll allotment through
Agency credit union.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the following:
The Employer will make every
reasonable effort to get the Federal Occupational Health Service
to provide employees the option of as many payment methods as
possible. The options sought shall include but not be limited
to the following:
1) pay in full by check
or money order
2) monthly payment by credit
card
3) monthly payment by chick
or money order
4) internal transfer through
Agency credit union with copy of internal transfer as proof
of payment
5) payroll allotment through
Agency credit union.
FACILITIES
. . . FITNESS CENTER . . . COST OF MEDICAL CERTIFICATION
Department of the Treasury,
Internal Revenue Service, Washington, D.C. and Chapters 65, 83,
and 251, National Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 99 FSIP
24, March 16, 1999 (Release No. 418).
The AGENCY proposed to establish
a multi-level medical screening process--no screening, mini-screening,
comprehensive screening--for employees to join the fitness center.
The UNION proposed the following:
The Agency will not require
medical certification for employees as a condition for using the
fitness centers. If the [Federal Service Impasses Panel] determines
that medical certification is necessary, the Agency will either
provide the services for obtaining such medical certification
at no cost to the employee or the Agency will reimburse employees
for incurring expenses in obtaining such medical certification
if the Agency does not provide that service.
Employees who have incurred
costs in securing a medical certification will be reimbursed in
full by the Agency.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the following:
Application procedures for
membership in the fitness center will establish a multi-level
screening procedure. Members may choose one of the following options:
Comprehensive Screening--includes
an extensive health questionnaire and blood tests for cholesterol
and glucose; medical clearance by personal physician may be
recommended. Once full clearance is given, fitness center staff
will, upon request, design an exercise program tailored to individual
needs and physical condition. Pending full clearance, member
may exercise at low-moderate levels. Member assumes risks of
injury resulting from failure to disclose accurate, complete,
and updated information.
Mini-screening--includes
a brief questionnaire, but no blood tests; medical clearance
by personal physician may be recommended. Under this option,
member will be cleared for only low-moderate levels of exercise
and fitness center staff will, upon request, design an exercise
program within that parameter that is tailored to individual
needs and physical condition. Member assumes risks or injury
from failure to disclose accurate and complete information or
obtain recommended medical clearance from a physician.
No screening--no questionnaire
or blood tests required. Member assumes all risk for cardiac
and musculoskeletal injury due to stress of exercise. Member
is free to exercise at any level; however, fitness center will
not assist member by designing an individual exercise program.
FACILITIES
. . . SEPARATION WALL
Social Security Administration,
Ventura Field Office, Ventura, California and Local 2452, American
Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 99 FSIP
142, December 16, 1999 (Release No. 427).
The UNION proposed that the
agency install a wall to separate the front-end interviewing area
from the employee work area--"a wall that would run from the reception
area wall to the outer end of the supervisory module."
The AGENCY proposed that there
be no changes in the front-end interviewing work area.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the AGENCY's proposal.
FACILITIES
. . . PRIVACY WALL
Social Security Administration,
Ventura Field Office, Ventura, California and Local 2452, American
Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 99 FSIP
142, December 16, 1999 (Release No. 427).
The UNION proposed that the
agency install "a solid floor-to-ceiling privacy wall behind the
service representative reception desk."
The AGENCY proposed that there
be no changes in the service representative reception desk area.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the UNION's proposal.
FACILITIES
. . . EXCLUSIVE USE OF EMPLOYEE RESTROOM
Social Security Administration,
Ventura Field Office, Ventura, California and Local 2452, American
Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 99 FSIP
142, December 16, 1999 (Release No. 427).
The UNION proposed that managers
escort claimants in wheelchairs to and from employee restrooms when
public restrooms do not meet their needs.
The AGENCY proposed that claimants
in wheelchairs be escorted to and from employee restrooms when public
restrooms do not meet their needs, but did not specify which employees
were to act as escorts.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the following:
The Agency will continue
to provide separate restrooms for the exclusive use of employees
with one exception. SSA clients in wheelchairs will be permitted
to use the employee restrooms if they are unable to use the public
restrooms. In the event that a wheelchair client needs to use
the employee facility, management will provide immediate notice
to all employees. The client will be escorted to and from the
employee restroom. If weather permits, the wheelchair client will
be escorted through the courtyard to the restroom. This provision
does not set a precedent for other SSA facilities and it does
not set a precedent for other lease compliance issues.
FACILITIES
. . . TRAINING ROOM
Social Security Administration,
Ventura Field Office, Ventura, California and Local 2452, American
Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, Case No. 99 FSIP
142, December 16, 1999 (Release No. 427).
The UNION proposed that the
renovated training room meet all health and safety requirements
and is a comfortable setting for training.
The AGENCY proposed that the
health and safety language in the Unions proposal is unnecessary
because the master collective bargaining agreement already contains
health and safety provisions.
The PANEL ordered the parties
to adopt the AGENCY's proposal.
FACILITIES
. . . OFFICE SELECTION PROCEDURE
Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation Headquarters, Washington, D.C. and Chapter 207, National
Treasury Employees Union, Case No. 99 FSIP 158, December 20,
1999 (Release No. 427).
The AGENCY proposed, as a pilot
program, that employees select offices by grade--from highest to
lowest, and that ties be broken "by seniority in grade, then seniority
in the Agency (including cumulative service in the FDIC, RTC, and
the FSLIC), and finally seniority in the 'work unit.'"
The UNION proposed that the
parties conduct a survey of all bargaining unit employees asking
them which office selection procedure they prefer, the Agency's
proposed change or the status quo where employees select offices
based upon grade and seniority within a work unit. The parties would
implement the procedure favored by a simple majority of the respondents
to the survey.
ARBITRATOR Marvin E. Johnson
ordered the parties to adopt the UNION's last best offer, i.e.,
"they shall continue to utilize the current procedure until the
survey is conducted and the results obtained."
|