NATCA Bookshelf

2016 CBA Tentati ve Agreement Page 146 of 217 workgroup(s) to accomplish the objectives identified in Section 1, they shall promptly notify the other Party as to their desire to establish a workgroup(s). Section 5. When the Parties agree to establish a workgroup(s), they will collaborate on the scope of the workgroup, which shall be defined in writing an d communicated to each member prior to the commencement of business. At a minimum, scoping documents will include the number of workgroup participants, designation of co - leads, and the extent to which the workgroup is empowered to make decisions or recomme ndations. Separate scoping documents may be developed by the workgroup co - leads to establish and empower sub - groups, when appropriate. Section 6. Workgroups will include bargaining unit employees designated by the Union in consultation with the Agency. Employees shall be in a duty status for all workgroup activities and shall be afforded sufficient duty time to travel for meetings and related activities. Union designated workgroup members and/or representatives will be provided access to the same infor mation as any other workgroup member. Section 7. Workgroups established by this Agreement will make decisions or recommendations by consensus. For the purpose of this Agreement, consensus is defined as the voluntary agreement of all representatives of the workgroup for a particular outcome. If the workgroup is unable to reach consensus, the co - leads are authorized to reach agreement. Agreements reached by the workgroup(s) shall be reduced to writing and shall be binding on both Parties, provided they are w ithin the defined scope. If the co - leads are unable to reach an agreement, either Party may pursue whatever course of action is available in accordance with Article 7 of this Agreement, the Federal Service Labor - Management Relations Statue, and any other law, rule or regulation. Section 8. When either Party identifies a need for a National Representative(s) they shall promptly notify the other Party. When the Parties at the national level agree that there is a need for a National Representative(s) to accomplish the objectives identified in Section 1, the Union shall designate the Representative(s) in consultation with the Agency. Employees serving as National Representatives shall be in a duty status unless otherwise agreed to by the Parties. Sect ion 9. When a National Representative is established, the Parties will collaboratively identify, at a minimum, the following: the specific duties to be performed; location of the position; the duty time necessary to meet the responsibilities; and the antic ipated duration of the assignment. If the Agency has determined that Extended Temporary Duty Travel Tax Reimbursement Allowance (ETTRA) will not be offered, employee temporary duty travel shall be for periods of less than one year. These agreements shall be reduced to writing for each National Representative position established. Section 10. Within ninety (90) days of the signing of this Agreement, the Parties at the local, regional, or national level, as appropriate, shall meet to review existing workg roup scoping documents to ensure compliance with this Article. Until the review is complete, the Parties agree to maintain the existing workgroup and associated scoping documents. Section 11. Within ninety (90) days of the signing of this Agreement, the Parties shall meet to review the National Representative positions not identified in this Agreement. Until the review is complete, the Parties agree to maintain the existing National Representatives. Section 12. Within ninety (90) days of the signing o f this Agreement, the Parties shall meet to establish/review written agreements for the National Representative positions identified in this Agreement.

• Cover