Contract Negotiations Where operational requirements permit, and on reasonable notice, the Employer shall grant special leave with pay for not more than two (2) representatives of each bargaining unit for the purpose of attending contract negotiation meetings with the Employer on behalf of the Union. Such permission shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Leave for Negotiations Members of the MSEA-SEIU bargaining team (whose numbers shall not exceed three (3) for each unit plus the President and/or Vice President of MSEA-SEIU) shall suffer no loss in pay or benefits for participation in negotiations for a successor Agreement. Additionally, leave may be requested for other members necessary for par- ticipation on specific negotiations issues and such leave shall not be unreasonably denied. MSEA-SEIU shall give reasonable notice to the Office of Employee Relations of the names of those bargaining team members who will be attending particular bargaining sessions. MSEA-SEIU recognizes that exceptional circumstances might preclude the release of an individual on a particular day. The Office of Employee Relations will notify affected agencies of those individuals designated or otherwise requested to be made available on particular dates for participation in negotiations and will inform those agencies of the day, or days, when negotiations will take place. No additional compensation shall be paid if negotiations extend beyond the end of an employee's normal work hours. However, a good faith effort shall be made to schedule non-standard workweek employees so that their days off shall not fall on days of negotiations. Any designated employee who has a State vehicle assigned shall be allowed to use the vehicle while traveling to and from negotiations. Such employee shall be considered to be in duty status and shall have his/her uniform available for necessary use.
Annual Negotiations Negotiations will be conducted each year according to the ground rules as mutually agreed upon prior to negotiations. Ground Rules (see APPENDIX F - GROUND RULES) used at the previous year's sessions will serve as the basis for discussing any changes before adopting ground rules for the current negotiating sessions. Such ground rules mutually agreed upon shall assist in the orderly process for negotiations.
Contract Negotiations Meetings Where operational requirements permit, the Employer will grant leave without pay to an employee for the purpose of attending contract negotiations meetings on behalf of the Institute.
Step 3 – Contract Language Disputes (a) If a grievance concerning the interpretation or application of this Agreement, other than a grievance alleging that a disciplinary action (reduction in base pay, demotion, involuntary transfer of more than 50 miles by highway, suspension, or dismissal) was taken without cause, is not resolved at Step 2, the grievant or designated representative may appeal the grievance by submitting it to the Office Manager for the Office of the General Counsel of the Department of Management Services, 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, 00000-0950, or by email to: Xxxx0Xxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx within 15 days following receipt of the decision at Step 2. The grievance shall include a copy of the grievance forms submitted at Steps 1 and 2, together with all written responses and documents in support of the grievance. When the grievance is eligible for initiation at Step 3, the grievance shall be filed on the grievance form contained in Appendix B of this Contract, setting forth specifically the facts on which the grievance is based, the specific provision(s) of the Contract allegedly violated, and the relief requested.
