Local 2419 and NIH management commit themselves to the development of a workplace culture and climate where Union representatives and management officials, in all appropriate units of the Agency, have a good working relationship and mutual respect. The Agency and Local 2419 recognize that reasonable time spent by Union officials in the conduct of union-management business under the statute contributes to the development of orderly and constructive labor-management relations.

Within thirty (30) days after each general election, Local 2419 shall give the Agency a complete list of all officers, stewards, and other representatives. Within the first five (5) days of each month, Local 2419 shall notify the Agency of any change in the list within the preceding month.

Officers, Stewards, and Other Representatives of Local 2419 are authorized to perform duties properly assigned to them by the Local subject to the restrictions on use of official time provided in Section 4 of this Article.

The Union will be allowed an annual bank of 2400 hours. These hours are all inclusive for all matters related to Official time activities. The bank of hours will be administered by the LRO and Union President jointly. The usage of the hours must be submitted by the requesting official via an electronic version of form NIH 2789 through the e-mail. The e-mail will be sent simultaneously to the immediate supervisor, the LRO, and Union President, and the supervisor of any other employees, if applicable. Paper requests using the form NIH 2789 will be made when the e-mail system is not working.

All requests will normally be made two (2) work days in advance of the usage of the time requested. The Agency will normally respond to all requests within twenty-four (24) hours and will normally approve requests made. The Agency may turn down requests when the manning of the work group is so severely impacted by the anticipated use of official time that the Agency is unable to meet the needs of its customers or carry out its mission, and is of such importance that rescheduling of the time usage is preferred. .The Union officials will normally be exempt from shift work duties and will normally be assigned to the day shift. This is done to allow them the ability to work with Agency Management and other Agency officials as needed to perform the duties of the position.

A. Scheduling of official time will be made by submitting form NIH 2789 in accordance with Section 4 above, to the immediate supervisor of the person making the request. The amount of official time must be recorded on the Record of Official Time log. These forms are included in this agreement as Appendix A and B respectively.

B. The supervisor and Union representative shall maintain their respective forms. Each time official representational time is used, the supervisor and representative shall fill out and initial the forms. At the end of each month the supervisor and Union representative shall sign both forms.