IMPORTANT
BARGAINING
UPDATE
January 2003
MEMORANDUM
To: FDIC Chapter Presidents
Re: Agreement on FDIC-NTEU Term Contract
Summary: An agreement has been reached on a new term contract between the FDIC and NTEU.
I am pleased to announce that the FDIC and NTEU have reached a tentative agreement on the last major piece of a new term contract.
Highlights of the package include:
Telework: The original pilot program will be made permanent, and will be strengthened and expanded. Employees will no longer be required to identify specific “tasks” to be accomplished in any ad hoc or recurring telework request, but only the “work” that they want to perform at home. There is also an expanded option allowing all DSC examiners to work at home full-time, when not working on examinations, and a new provision that provides reimbursement for high-speed internet access and for furniture and equipment, tied to the employee’s agreement to forfeit office space when the field office lease expires.
Office Space: This was one of the most contentious issues on the bargaining table, as management was looking for significant cost savings through major reductions in employee office space. In particular, the FDIC focused on reducing the size of DSC field offices, and it originally proposed requiring examiners to share 36 square foot workstation, based on data that it said indicated that the current workstations are “underutilized.” The parties eventually worked out an agreement that uses a formula to determine the overall size of the office space that the FDIC will seek to lease, and once the lease is obtained, the parties will bargain locally over how the space is to be allocated. Examiners will still have individual, dedicated workstations, ranging in size from 48 to 64 square feet. However, the contract will also include a provision that the FDIIC cannot reduce any employee’s workspace without showing an actual reduction in cost. Office space for Regional Offices and Headquarters is covered by a separate article in the contract, providing a process for local negotiations on these issues. Both articles also include a provision for expedited resolution of any impasse in bargaining over office space issues.
Work Schedules: In addition to the work schedule options currently available (5-4/9 and credit hours), the FDIC has agreed to a one-year pilot program for a separate “glide schedule” option for Headquarters employees.
Seniority: The FDIC agreed to withdraw its proposal to change the definition of seniority, to use total federal service rather than agency service. As a result, the status quo will be retained in the new agreement, so that all provisions that use seniority as a determining factor will be based on service with the FDIC, RTC or FHLBB.
Contracting Out: The FDIC has agreed in principle to the concept of providing an opportunity for NTEU input into the Statement of Work used in its Request for Proposals in any proposed contracting out of bargaining unit work, and for NTEU input on any estimate of the cost of performing such work in-house.
Union Representatives: NTEU will be authorized one steward for every 40 bargaining unit employees, or fraction thereof (so that the Union will still have a steward in offices with fewer than 40 employees). In each field office, the Union will also be able to designate an “alternate steward” who can perform representation functions and utilize official time if the regular steward is absent or unavailable. Each chapter president will also be authorized official time, in addition to the number of stewards designated under this formula (i.e., the chapter president’s slot will not count against the 1 per 40 allocation).
Official Time: Union representatives and employees who seek to use official time in connection with representational matters will request official time using a new form, which may be submitted in written or electronic form. However, chapter presidents and chief stewards will not be required to use this form, and may simply their planned schedule for use of official time to their supervisors at or before the beginning of a pay period. As under the current contract, the requested time will be granted unless the representative’s or employee’s absence would substantially interfere with meeting an important work-related deadline, other mission-related needs, or a bona fide emergency. Also, representatives are not required to use the form and seek advance approval when the anticipated duration of use of official time is less than one hour (although this time must still be aggregated and reported in the time and attendance system).
Union Travel: The FDIC will pay for all travel in connection with negotiations (midterm and term) and to attend LMRC meetings. The FDIC will also pay travel and per diem for up to 60 representatives nationwide to attend the annual NTEU training conference in the first year of the agreement, and 40 representatives in each subsequent year. For all other travel for representation activities (including travel to the Legislative Conference) each chapter receive up to $3000 per year in the first two years of the agreement, with this cap subject to renegotiation at that time.
Duration: The FDIC and NTEU have agreed that this agreement will be in effect for five years, with an opportunity for either party to reopen negotiations on three articles at the halfway point.
The final language of the contract has not yet been finalized. As soon as this is completed, I will send the agreement out for ratification by NTEU members, along with material that you can use to build support for NTEU throughout your chapter. I know you will join me in supporting this very strong agreement, which provides many benefits and protections for FDIC employees and preserves NTEU’s ability to provide the highest-quality representation to our members.
Colleen M. Kelley
National President