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Bloomington Employee Relations

The attached guidelines are a resource to aid in decision making about release time when an AFSCME, Local 832 official participates in various union related activities.

Articles #1 and #2 of the "Articles of Cooperation" found in Section 7.2 of the Personnel Policies Manual are the governing documents for this issue. These guidelines are intended to help in the application of the "Articles." (10/19/95 memo)

http://www.indiana.edu/~uhrs/policies/appointed/articles.html

Guidelines for Release Time for AFSCME, Local 832 Union Activities

The following guidelines for release time for union activities will be the resource for the decision making by AFSCME, Local 832 officers/stewards and departmental management when a union official is participating in:

1. joint union/management meetings during normal work hours,
2. joint union/management meetings during non-work hours,
3. grievance investigation or preparation activities,
4. grievance meetings with management in one of the specified steps of the grievance procedure,
5. union meetings during work hours, or
6. approved union sponsored training programs.
   1. Participating in a joint union/management meeting during an employee's regular work shift. (These are Equal Representation Committee "ERC" type meetings in Human Resources or within an individual department and annual negotiations under the "Conditions for Cooperation.")

      http://www.indiana.edu/~uhrs/policies/appointed/conditions.html

      Union officers or stewards will be released from their regular work shift without loss of pay to attend joint union/management meetings. They will work within their departments prior to and following the meeting, allowing for normal travel time. This is consistent with the language in Article #2 of the "Articles of Cooperation."

      http://www.indiana.edu/~uhrs/policies/appointed/articles.html

   2. Participating in a joint union/management meeting during hours outside the employee's regular work shift. (These are the same types of meetings as above.)

      When a joint meeting is scheduled during hours outside the regular work shift for a union officer or steward, as frequently happens for second and third shift employees, the person shall either:

      1. receive the same amount of time to take off during that week,
         or
      2. have that workday adjusted to permit either a late arrival or early departure for the same amount of time.

      The policy on change in work schedules will not apply in these cases.

   3. Participating in grievance investigation or preparation activities.

      Article #1 of the "Articles of Cooperation" states that "Employees and stewards shall be allowed reasonable opportunity for discussion of complaints or grievances subject to the approval of the supervisor of each as to the earliest practical time when they both can be spared from the job." If this release time is during the regular work shift of those involved, it will be with pay. If the time is during the hours outside the regular work shift of a participant, the time is without pay. For example, an officer who normally works the first shift will be on his own time when visiting a work location on the second shift to meet with a grievant. Likewise, a grievant who works the second shift, will be on his or her own time during visits to the campus in the daytime to meet with an officer to discuss a grievance.

      http://www.indiana.edu/~uhrs/policies/appointed/articles.html

   4. Participating in grievance meetings with management in one of the specified steps of the grievance procedure.

      Since grievance meetings are scheduled by management, the grievant and union official representing the grievant will be considered in pay status. If the meeting is during the hours outside the regular work shift of either the grievant or the official, they will receive either an equivalent amount of paid time off to be taken that week or will have the starting or ending time for that workday adjusted an equivalent amount of time. The policy on change in work schedules will not apply in these circumstances.

   5. Participating in a union meeting during work hours.

      All such meetings will be attended on the officers or stewards' own time. Time away from work will either be without pay or charged against accumulated vacation, personal affairs time or compensatory time off; at the employee's choice and subject to departmental policies and practices concerning the scheduling of such time. If mutually agreed and if scheduling permits without hardship to the unit, adjustments in hours of work can be arranged.

   6. Participating in approved union-sponsored training programs.

      If approved in advance by University administration and departmental management, union officers, stewards and other approved union represented employees will be allowed time away from work without loss of pay to participate in union sponsored training programs. If such programs occur during hours outside the regular work shift of a participant, the time shall be without pay for that participant. If mutually agreed and if scheduling permits without hardship to the unit, adjustments in hours of work can be arranged.

      Articles #1 and #2 of the "Articles of Cooperation," are the governing documents in dispute over these issues. These guidelines are not intended to replace or supersede any provisions concerning the payment of overtime by state or federal laws.

      http://www.indiana.edu/~uhrs/policies/appointed/articles.html