Section 1. The Agency will endeavor to provide a fair and equitable rotation policy for employees of the bargaining unit, MES, when being assigned/reassigned to or from shift work from the day work maintenance shift.

Section 2. Employees will be assigned to standard shifts with an eight-hour tour of duty and no scheduled lunch period. Such employees will be allotted a reasonable period of time, normally one-half hour during the tour to eat lunch at such time as they can be spared from their duties. Each shift will work a specific tour of duty.

Section 3. Employees wishing to change to another shift or day work, may request to do so in writing 30-days prior to the beginning of the open season (January 1, May 1, and September 1). Employees will be notified two (2) weeks before the beginning of the open season of the approved change and starting date. The starting date will be the beginning of the next work schedule change after January 1, May 1, or September 1. When changes are not approved, employees will be provided with a written explanation. Shift changes affecting day work maintenance will be limited to 25% of the personnel regularly assigned to that shift and who would be eligible for shift changes.

Example:
1 - 5 employees per shift = 1 employee for open season
6 employees per shift = 2 employees for open season
Employees may choose to elect day work (maintenance) schedule or volunteer to stay on shift.

Section 4. Changes between shifts can only occur when vacant positions are created or occur on shift during the year. Such positions will first be offered to existing qualified shift personnel. Only employees currently assigned to the Unit where the vacancy occurs will be given consideration for the reassignment. Only one such request per vacancy will be honored with the most senior employee in the bargaining unit given preference. Employees experiencing personal situations impacting their work shift, i.e., attending school, child care etc., may request an exception to the shift changes procedures at any time throughout the year through normal supervisory channels.

Section 5. The assignment of day work or maintenance personnel (non-shift) to shift, if needed, will be done according to the following procedure. The Agency will first solicit qualified volunteers for assignment to shift. If there are no qualified volunteers or an insufficient number as requested by the Agency to fill a shift vacancy, personnel will be assigned from a rotation list of day working maintenance personnel with a straight rotation of top to bottom on the list. Personnel coming off of shift assignment will have their names placed on the bottom or end of the list.

Section 6. Day work maintenance employees with their supervisor's approval, may arrange for trading shifts with other qualified day crew personnel who volunteer to accept their tour of duty. The employee arranging the trade will have their name marked off that shift. The employee accepting the trade will have their name put on for that shift. When the employee returns from the trade, their name will be added to the bottom of the list.

Employees who are deferred from shift due to unique/special skills, will only be granted one (1) such deferment, after which this employee will be the next employee to be assigned to shift work.

Section 7. Employees who are reassigned to accommodate performance deficiencies or conduct problems or who may be involved in the Employee Assistance Program or other documented rehabilitation programs, may be excluded from these procedures for up to one (1) year. The time period may be extended for medical reasons, if administratively acceptable medical documentation is received by the Agency and concurred with by the Occupational Medical Services (OMS). The Agreement excludes employees designated as "Trainee" or "Apprentice" who are already covered by existing training or apprenticeship programs.

Section 8. Eligible or "qualified" shift personnel include, but is not limited to, an employee who meets OPM classification requirements, possesses the skills required for the job or duties assigned, is appropriately graded for the position, etc.

The parties recognize that management has the right to assign and make the final determination regarding qualifications necessary for the performance of jobs within the Maintenance Engineering Section (MES).

Section 9. Relief shift employees who work hours that are primarily day work, will have an unspecified lunch period during working hours when they may be spared from their duties. These employees work an eight-hour (8) tour of duty.

Section 1. The Agency will endeavor to provide a fair and equitable rotation policy for employees of the bargaining unit when being reassigned to or from their early or late shift. Generally employees will be assigned to an early shift or a late shift. The early shift starting times range between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., the late shift starting times range between 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Section 2. When there is an imbalance in staffing, management will assign individuals to the shift where there is a shortage. Assignments to the imbalanced shift will be made by reverse seniority in the NDCC. Both full and part-time employees will be assigned in accordance with this procedure. When the staffing imbalance is resolved, the employee who was reassigned will be offered the opportunity to return to the original tour.

Section 3. Employees experiencing personal situations impacting their work shift, i.e., school attendance, child care etc., may request reassignment to another shift. Employees with their supervisors' approval, may arrange for trading shifts with other qualified personnel who volunteer to accept their tour of duty.