KM Unit – ART. 39: Union Rights

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ARTICLE 39 – UNION RIGHTS  

A. Union Access 

Duly authorized representatives of the Union shall be permitted access to work locations in which employees covered by this  Agreement are employed. Such access shall not interfere with the  work of the employees. Management may require prior approval for  such access. Access to employees shall not be arbitrarily denied.

B. Bulletin Boards 

The University will furnish Union bulletin board space at locations  where employees covered by this Agreement are employed. The  board space shall not include any derogatory information about UC  MERCED or the Regents of the University and shall be used only for  legitimate Union information ‘not posted on doors’, including but not  limited to: 

  1. Union recreational, social, and related news bulletins;

  2. Scheduled Union meetings;

  3. Information concerning Union elections or the results thereof;

  4. Reports of official business of the Union including reports of  committees or the Executive Board; and,

  5. Any other written material which first has been approved by the Union, and signed by an authorized Business Representative. 

C. Use of University Facilities and University Equipment 

  1. University facilities may be used by the Union with prior  approval of University management for the purpose of holding  meetings, to the extent that such facilities can be made available  without interfering with normal University operations.

  2. When required, the Union shall reimburse the University for use  fees or expenses, such as security, maintenance, and clean-up  costs, incurred as a result of the Union’s use of such facilities.

  3. Teamsters 2010 stewards may use University computers for  Union business in accordance with the University’s Electronic  Mail/Electronic Communications Policy.

  4. Teamsters 2010 stewards may use University copiers, printers  and fax machines at a cost of seven cents ($.07) per page for  black and white and thirty-eight cents ($.38) per page for color.  Teamsters 2010 will reimburse the University for said costs  when billed at the designated Teamsters 2010 address.  Permission to use UC copiers, printers and fax machines for  Union business must be obtained in advance of such use from  steward’s immediate supervisor. Abuse of this privilege shall  preclude that steward from future use. 

D. Union Stewards 

  1. The Union shall be entitled to designate a reasonable number of  employees to act as stewards for the employees covered by this  Agreement. The Union shall furnish the University official or  designee with the names of the employees selected as stewards.  Any change in the appointment of the designated stewards shall  be made known to the designated University official. There shall  be no more than a total of three (3) stewards at UC Merced and  no more than one (1) steward per shop on any shift. In addition,  there shall be one designated health and safety steward.

  2. Union business/activities shall not be conducted on an  employee’s scheduled work time nor shall such  business/activities interfere with University programs and  operations except as referenced in Section D(3) hereafter.

  3. Union activities that are covered under the various Articles of  this Agreement may be conducted on an employee’s scheduled  work time as referenced in the applicable Articles Grievance  Procedure, Article 26 (B)(6), Arbitration Procedure, Article 27  (E), Labor-Management Relations, Article 36 (C), Joint Health & Safety Committee, Article 29.

 

E. No Reprisals for Union Activity 

The University is prohibited from imposing or threatening to impose  reprisals, from discriminating or threatening to discriminate against  stewards and bargaining unit members, or from otherwise interfering  with, restraining, or coercing stewards because of the exercise of any  rights given by this Agreement. A full-time Teamsters 2010  Consultant or Officer may file a grievance concerning steward  reprisal with the Campus Labor Relations Office. If the grievance is  not resolved, it may be the subject of an unfair labor practice charge.  Section E of this Article shall not, however, be subject to the  Arbitration Procedure in this Agreement. 

F. Release Time for Meet and Confer 

Employees appointed by the Union shall be granted a reasonable  amount of release time for the purpose of meeting and conferring at  the bargaining table. Not more than three (3) employees shall be  provided release time unless the parties mutually agree otherwise.  Employees on release time shall not be compensated for any hours  which exceed the employee’s regularly scheduled hours of work. 

Arrangements shall be made by the University and the Union to  enable swing and graveyard shift employees to participate in the  meet and confer process, if necessary, as long it does not impact the  University’s ability to provide services. The Union shall provide the  designated University official with the names of employees requiring  such release time at least three (3) working days in advance of the  meet and confer session unless the parties mutually agree otherwise.  The University shall not arbitrarily deny a particular request for  release time. 

G. Leave of Absence for Union Business 

  1. Short Term Leaves 

Any employee covered by this agreement who has been  officially appointed by the Union as an officer, delegate or  steward may be granted a leave of absence for union activities.  The aggregate of all such leave(s) shall not exceed a total of  fifteen (15) working days per calendar year. Time may be  extended if mutually agreed. 

The Union will submit to the Labor Relations Office a written  list of all designated Union officers, delegates, and stewards  annually within the month of January. Any changes to the  original list must be provided to the Labor Relations Office in  writing. 

  1. Teamsters 2010 shall reimburse the University for all costs of  employee compensation, including but not limited to, salary plus  all benefits paid to the employee. Time the employee is on leave  shall be without loss of benefits or compensation. UC MERCED  will submit billing to Teamsters 2010 at the designated  Teamsters 2010 address for the leave referenced herein.  Teamsters 2010 will pay said sum to the Regents of the  University of California care of UC MERCED and submit to the  Campus Cashiering Service Office within thirty (30) days of the  date of said bill. 

A written request for such leave(s) of absence must be submitted  to the University official or designee at least ten (10) working  days prior to the effective date of the leave. The request shall not  be unreasonably denied, however, the University need not grant  the leave when it can demonstrate compelling operational  reasons. 

H. New Employee Orientations 

  1. The University (where applicable) shall notify Teamsters 2010  in advance of scheduled new group employee orientations, if  any, upon request of the local Teamsters 2010 representative.

  2. Teamsters 2010 shall be permitted to meet with the new KM Unit employees according to campus timetables and practices  for thirty-minutes on paid time, at new employee orientation  sessions, if any, for the purpose of sharing information with new  KM-Unit employees. In the event the University does not  conduct an in-person new employee orientation, Teamsters 

2010 shall have thirty-minutes of paid time to meet with new  KM-Unit employees at their worksite, within 15 days of their  start date, for the purpose of sharing information. In addition to  a Union representative, one (1) Union steward/employee  representative may be present and/or conduct the Union  presentation on a without-loss-of-straight-time-pay status. 

  1. Information about the time and location of the Teamsters 2010  meeting shall be announced at the new employee orientation  meeting, if any.
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