AGREEMENT
Between
COUNTY OF INGHAM
and
INGHAM COUNTY EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION
PUBLIC HEALTH NURSES UNIT
January 1, 2006 - December 31, 2008
ARTICLE INDEX
PARTIES.............................................................................................................................. 1
RECOGNITION.................................................................................................................. 1
Section 1. PHN Unit Recognition.............................................................................. 1
Section 2. Others...................................................................................................... 1
Section 3. Other Agreements.................................................................................... 2
Section 4. Terminology............................................................................................. 2
Section 5. Notification.............................................................................................. 2
MANAGEMENT RIGHTS.................................................................................................. 2
Section 1. Manage Its Affairs.................................................................................... 2
Section 2. Rights....................................................................................................... 2
Section 3. Rules and Regulations............................................................................... 2
Section 4. Constitutional and Statutory Rights............................................................ 2
ASSOCIATION SECURITY AND CHECKOFF............................................................... 3
Section 1. ................................................................................................................ 3
Section 2. .............................................................................................................. 3
Section 3. Agency Shop........................................................................................... 3
Section 4. Continued Employment............................................................................. 4
Section 5. Notice of New Hires................................................................................ 4
PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE............................................................ 5
Section 1. Meetings.................................................................................................. 5
Section 2. Representatives........................................................................................ 5
Section 3. Application of Agreement......................................................................... 6
Section 4. Negotiations or Special Conferences......................................................... 6
REPRESENTATION........................................................................................................... 6
Section 1. Grievance Representation......................................................................... 6
Section 2. Negotiating Committee............................................................................. 6
Section 3. Professional Negotiations.......................................................................... 7
Section 4. Time Off with Pay.................................................................................... 7
Section 5. Facility Access......................................................................................... 7
Section 6. Correspondence....................................................................................... 7
Section 7. County Information................................................................................... 7
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE............................................................................................... 8
Section 1. Statement of Purpose............................................................................... 8
Section 2. Definitions................................................................................................ 8
Section 3. Steps in the Grievance Procedure............................................................. 8
Section 4. Time Limits............................................................................................ 10
Section 5. Employee Election of Forums................................................................. 11
Section 6. Expedited Grievances............................................................................. 11
Section 7. Witnesses............................................................................................... 11
Section 8. Grievance Procedure (HIPAA Requests)................................................ 11
MAINTENANCE OF DISCIPLINE.................................................................................. 12
Section 1. Rules of Professional Conduct................................................................ 12
Section 2. Corrective Discipline.............................................................................. 12
Section 3. Just Cause.............................................................................................. 12
Section 4. New Rules or Rule Changes................................................................... 12
Section 5. Disciplinary Action................................................................................. 12
Section 6. Personnel Files....................................................................................... 12
Section 7. Grievances............................................................................................. 13
Section 8. Prior Record.......................................................................................... 13
SPECIAL CONFERENCES.............................................................................................. 13
Section 1. Purposes and Procedures....................................................................... 13
Section 2. Lost Time............................................................................................... 13
Section 3. Answers................................................................................................. 13
SALARIES......................................................................................................................... 14
Section 1. Salaries.................................................................................................. 14
Section 2. Credit for Experience............................................................................. 14
Section 3. Temporary Assignment........................................................................... 14
Section 4. Hours of Work....................................................................................... 15
Section 5. Work Schedules..................................................................................... 15
Section 6. Staffing for Coverage for Other Than Hours Normally Worked............... 15
Section 7. Temporary Transfer/Assignment............................................................. 16
Section 8. Premium For Other Than Hours Normally Worked................................. 16
Section 9. Call-In Pay............................................................................................. 16
Section 10. "On-Call" Bonus................................................................................... 17
Section 11. Work Breaks....................................................................................... 17
Section 12. Overtime.............................................................................................. 17
Section 13. Adjustments to the Normal Work Day.................................................. 18
Section 14. Retroactivity......................................................................................... 18
VOTING............................................................................................................................ 18
DEFINITION OF EMPLOYEES....................................................................................... 18
Section 1. Full-Time Employees.............................................................................. 18
Section 2. Part-Time Employees............................................................................. 18
Section 3. Special Part-Time Employees................................................................. 19
Section 4. Probationary Employees......................................................................... 19
Section 5. Temporary Employees............................................................................ 20
Section 6. Substitute Employees.............................................................................. 20
Section 7. Contracted Benefits................................................................................ 20
PROMOTIONS AND DEMOTIONS............................................................................... 20
Section 1. Promotion.............................................................................................. 20
Section 2. Demotion............................................................................................... 21
Section 3. Transfers................................................................................................ 21
VACATIONS.................................................................................................................... 21
Section 1. Vacation Schedule.................................................................................. 21
Section 2. Use of Vacation in First Year.................................................................. 22
Section 3. Vacation Leave to Supplement Sickness................................................. 22
Section 4. Scheduling of Vacation Leave................................................................. 22
Section 5. Use of Compensatory Time.................................................................... 22
Section 6. Records of Vacation Eligibility................................................................ 22
Section 7. Accumulation of Vacation Days.............................................................. 22
Section 8. Payment of Vacation Hours.................................................................... 22
Section 9. Vacation Bonus Hours............................................................................ 22
Section 10. Illness While on Vacation...................................................................... 22
HOLIDAYS....................................................................................................................... 23
Section 1. Pay for Holidays..................................................................................... 23
Section 2. Vacation................................................................................................ 23
Section 3. Leave of Absence.................................................................................. 23
Section 4. Observance of Holidays......................................................................... 24
Section 5. Additional Preceding Day Off................................................................. 24
Section 6. Work on Holidays.................................................................................. 24
HEALTH PROGRAM AND HOSPITALIZATION........................................................... 24
Section 1. Physical Examination.............................................................................. 24
Section 2. Use of Personal Physician....................................................................... 24
Section 3. Hospitalization Insurance Coverage......................................................... 25
Section 4. When Coverage Begins.......................................................................... 26
Section 5. Authorized Payroll Deductions................................................................ 28
Section 6. Substitution of Carrier............................................................................. 28
Section 7. Continued Coverage............................................................................... 28
Section 8. Double Coverage................................................................................... 28
Section 9. Spouse Coverage................................................................................... 29
Section 10. Alternative Plans................................................................................... 29
RETIREMENT PLAN........................................................................................................ 29
Section 1. MERS Plan............................................................................................ 29
Section 2. Retirees' Life Insurance........................................................................... 30
Section 3. Hospitalization Insurance........................................................................ 30
Section 4. .............................................................................................................. 30
Section 5. Substitution of Carrier............................................................................. 31
CREDIT UNION............................................................................................................... 31
TRAVEL ALLOWANCE................................................................................................... 31
Section 1. Travel Allowance................................................................................... 31
Section 2. Automobile Insurance............................................................................. 32
SICK LEAVE..................................................................................................................... 32
Section 1. Sick Leave Period Yearly Accumulation................................................. 32
Section 2. Maximum Accumulation......................................................................... 32
Section 3. Part-Time Employees............................................................................. 32
Section 4. Use of Sick Leave.................................................................................. 33
Section 5. Sick Leave Increments........................................................................... 33
Section 6. Illness in the Immediate Household.......................................................... 33
Section 7. When Medical Statement is Required...................................................... 33
Section 8. Resignation or Dismissal......................................................................... 33
Section 9. Retirement.............................................................................................. 33
Section 10. Short-Term Disability........................................................................... 33
Section 11. Annual Cash-Out Option...................................................................... 34
Section 12. Sick Time Donation.............................................................................. 34
Section 13. Medical Dispute................................................................................... 35
FUNERAL LEAVE............................................................................................................ 35
Section 1. Immediate Family................................................................................... 35
Section 2. Other Members of an Employee's Family................................................ 36
Section 3. Additional Time...................................................................................... 36
Section 4. Appropriate Verification......................................................................... 36
UNPAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE.................................................................................... 36
Section 1. Medical Disability Leave of Absence...................................................... 36
Section 2. Child Care Leave................................................................................... 37
Section 3. Military Leave of Absence...................................................................... 37
Section 4. Military Reserve Leave of Absence......................................................... 37
Section 5. Leave for Association Business............................................................... 37
Section 6. Personal Leave....................................................................................... 37
Section 7. Educational Leave.................................................................................. 38
Section 8. Seniority and Fringe Benefits................................................................... 38
INSURANCE..................................................................................................................... 39
Section 1. Life Insurance......................................................................................... 39
Section 2. Part-Time Employees............................................................................. 39
Section 3. Professional Liability Insurance............................................................... 40
Section 4. Workers' Compensation......................................................................... 40
I.R.S. SECTION 125......................................................................................................... 41
Section 1. I.R.S. Section 125.................................................................................. 41
LAYOFF AND RESIGNATION....................................................................................... 42
Section 1. Notice.................................................................................................... 42
Section 2. Grant Positions....................................................................................... 42
Section 3. Hour Reductions.................................................................................... 42
Section 4. Layoff and Recall................................................................................... 42
Section 5. Seniority for Layoff and Bumping............................................................ 44
Section 6. Notice of Layoff and Recall.................................................................... 44
Section 7. Voluntary Layoffs................................................................................... 45
Section 8. Bumping Limitations............................................................................... 45
EDUCATIONAL REIMBURSEMENT.............................................................................. 45
Section 1. Reimbursement Policy............................................................................ 45
Section 2. Procedure.............................................................................................. 45
JURY DUTY...................................................................................................................... 46
Section 1. Notification............................................................................................ 46
Section 2. Pay Supplement..................................................................................... 46
Section 3. Time Worked......................................................................................... 46
Section 4. Other Judicial Proceedings...................................................................... 46
PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS.......................................................................................... 47
Section 1. Attendance Encouraged.......................................................................... 47
Section 2. Requests................................................................................................ 47
Section 3. Time Off................................................................................................ 47
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.......................................................................................... 47
Section 1. Training.................................................................................................. 47
Section 2. Training Pay........................................................................................... 47
Section 3. Specialized Training Requests................................................................. 47
WITHHOLDING OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES........................................................ 48
Section 1. Patients.................................................................................................. 48
Section 2. No Strike............................................................................................... 48
Section 3. Disciplinary Action................................................................................. 48
Section 4. No Lockout........................................................................................... 48
NONDISCRIMINATION................................................................................................. 48
Section 1. Employer's Pledge.................................................................................. 48
Section 2. Association's Pledge............................................................................... 48
Section 3. Gender................................................................................................... 48
Section 4. ............................................................................................................... 49
HEALTH AND SAFETY................................................................................................... 49
Section 1. Health and Safety Committee.................................................................. 49
VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT.......................................................................................... 49
Section 1. Holding of Invalidity................................................................................ 49
Section 2. Catch Line Not Part of Section............................................................... 49
USE OF FACILITIES........................................................................................................ 50
Section 1. Use of Facilities...................................................................................... 50
Section 2. Bulletin Boards....................................................................................... 50
Section 3. Health Department Equipment................................................................ 50
SALARY SCHEDULE....................................................................................................... 50
Section 1. Basis for Rate of Pay.............................................................................. 50
Section 2. Original Appointments............................................................................ 50
Section 3. New Employees..................................................................................... 50
Section 4. Educational Bonus.................................................................................. 51
Section 5. Merit Increases...................................................................................... 51
Section 6. Salary Schedules. ................................................................................. 51
Section 7. Promotions and Reclassifications............................................................. 52
Section 8. Overpayments........................................................................................ 52
PAST PRACTICES............................................................................................................ 53
Section 1. Past Practices......................................................................................... 53
DENTAL INSURANCE.................................................................................................... 53
Section 1. Dental Insurance..................................................................................... 53
Section 2. Eligibility................................................................................................ 54
Section 3. Special Part-Time Employees................................................................. 54
SERVICE/SENIORITY...................................................................................................... 54
Section 1. Definition................................................................................................ 54
Section 2. Seniority List.......................................................................................... 55
Section 3. Loss of Seniority/Employment................................................................. 55
JOB DESCRIPTIONS....................................................................................................... 56
Section 1. Job Descriptions..................................................................................... 56
RECLASSIFICATIONS.................................................................................................... 56
Section 1................................................................................................................. 56
Section 2. Medical Examiner Investigator. .............................................................. 56
VISION.............................................................................................................................. 56
Section 1................................................................................................................. 56
TERM OF AGREEMENT.................................................................................................. 57
Section 1. Duration................................................................................................. 57
Section 2. Extension of Agreement.......................................................................... 57
Section 3. Binding Effect......................................................................................... 57
ALPHABETICAL INDEX
Article Title Page
4........................................................................ ASSOCIATION SECURITY AND CHECKOFF 3
18......................................................................................................................... CREDIT UNION 31
12................................................................................................. DEFINITION OF EMPLOYEES 18
37.............................................................................................................. DENTAL INSURANCE 53
26........................................................................................ EDUCATIONAL REIMBURSEMENT 45
21...................................................................................................................... FUNERAL LEAVE 35
7........................................................................................................ GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE 8
32............................................................................................................. HEALTH AND SAFETY 49
16..................................................................... HEALTH PROGRAM AND HOSPITALIZATION 24
15................................................................................................................................. HOLIDAYS 23
23............................................................................................................................... INSURANCE 39
24.................................................................................................................. I.R.S., SECTION 125 41
39................................................................................................................. JOB DESCRIPTIONS 56
27................................................................................................................................ JURY DUTY 46
25................................................................................................. LAYOFF AND RESIGNATION 42
8............................................................................................. MAINTENANCE OF DISCIPLINE 12
3........................................................................................................... MANAGEMENT RIGHTS 2
31........................................................................................................... NONDISCRIMINATION 48
1....................................................................................................................................... PARTIES 1
class=Section3>36...................................................................................................................... PAST PRACTICES 53
28.................................................................................................... PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS 47
5..................................................................... PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE 5
29.................................................................................................... PROFESSIONAL TRAINING 47
13......................................................................................... PROMOTIONS AND DEMOTIONS 20
40 ............................................................................................................. RECLASSIFICATIONS 56
2........................................................................................................................... RECOGNITION 1
6.................................................................................................................... REPRESENTATION 6
17.................................................................................................................. RETIREMENT PLAN 29
10................................................................................................................................... SALARIES 14
35................................................................................................................. SALARY SCHEDULE 50
38................................................................................................................ SERVICE/SENIORITY 54
20............................................................................................................................... SICK LEAVE 32
.......................................................................................................................... SIGNATURE PAGE 57
9......................................................................................................... SPECIAL CONFERENCES 13
42............................................................................................................ TERM OF AGREEMENT 57
19............................................................................................................. TRAVEL ALLOWANCE 31
22.............................................................................................. UNPAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE 36
34.................................................................................................................. USE OF FACILITIES 50
14.............................................................................................................................. VACATIONS 21
33.................................................................................................... VALIDITY OF AGREEMENT 49
41........................................................................................................................................ VISION 56
11...................................................................................................................................... VOTING 18
30.................................................................. WITHHOLDING OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES 48
PARTIES
This Agreement made this ____ day of ____________________, 2006, between the COUNTY OF INGHAM and INGHAM COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT (hereinafter referred to as the "County", the "Employer" or the "Department") and the INGHAM COUNTY EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION (hereinafter referred to as the "Association", "ICEA" or the "Union") hereby agree as follows:
RECOGNITION
Section 1. PHN Unit Recognition. Ingham County hereby recognizes that the Ingham County Employees' Association, pursuant to Case No. R81 H-292 of the Employment Relations Commission, State of Michigan, Department of Labor, in the unit described below is the exclusive representative for the purposes of collective bargaining and that pursuant to Sections 11 and 12 of Act 336 of the Public Acts of 1947, as amended, the said Association is the exclusive representative of all the employees of such unit for the purposes of collective bargaining with respect to rates of pay, wages, hours of employment and other conditions of employment.
PHN Unit
All regular Public Health Nurse I's, all regular Public Health Nurse II's, all regular Senior Public Health Nurses, all regular Communicable Disease Coordinators and all regular Maternal Infant Outreach Coordinators of the Ingham County Health Department. Excluding the Director of Nursing and Supervising Nurses or their equivalent.
Section 2. Others. Persons who are awaiting Michigan registration and who are employed as nurses in the unit described above, or under a temporary permit issued by the Michigan Board of Nursing, shall be included in this unit, if they fill a non-supervisory position, excluding probationary employees, excepting as hereinafter stated in Article 12, Section 4.
Section 3. Other Agreements. The Employer agrees that during the life of this Agreement, it will not enter into any agreement with employees individually or collectively which conflicts with or are contrary to the terms of this Agreement without negotiating with the Association.
Section 4. Terminology. Wherever the terms "Health Officer" or "Department Head" are used, they shall refer to the Health Officer of the Ingham County Health Department. Wherever the terms "nurse", "registered professional nurse" or "employee" are used, they shall refer to a member of the Public Health Nurse unit. "Facility" shall refer to the Ingham County Health Department. "Department" shall refer to the Ingham County Health Department. "Association" shall refer to the ICEA. "County" shall refer to the County of Ingham.
Section 5. Notification. When the Department seeks funding for a new specialized nursing position, it shall advise the Union.
MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
Section 1. Manage Its Affairs. The unit recognizes that the County and Department reserve and retain, solely and exclusively, all rights to manage and direct their work force and to manage and operate their affairs.
Section 2. Rights. All rights, functions, powers, and authority which the County and Department have not specifically abridged, delegated or modified by this Agreement are recognized by the unit as being retained by the County and Department.
Section 3. Rules and Regulations. The Department and/or the County shall have the right to amend, supplement, or add to its official departmental rules and regulations during the term of this Agreement, provided, however, the Department and/or the County shall notify the Association of any such amendments, supplements or additions in advance of their effective date as hereinafter specified in Article 8, Section 4.
Section 4. Constitutional and Statutory Rights. Neither the constitutional or the statutory rights, duties and obligations of the Employer shall in any way whatsoever be abridged.
ASSOCIATION SECURITY AND CHECKOFF
Section 1. The Employer will not discriminate against any employee because of membership in the Association.
Section 2. Upon completion of thirty (30) days of employment, membership in the Association or compliance with payment of representation fees shall be a condition of continued employment. The Employer agrees to deduct Association dues or Association service fees to become effective the second payday of the month.
Section 3. Agency Shop. The Employer agrees to deduct from the salary of each individual employee in the bargaining unit who becomes a member, the Association's dues, subject to all of the following conditions:
A. The Association shall obtain from each of its members a completed authorization form which shall conform to the respective state and federal law(s) concerning that subject, or any interpretation(s) thereof.
B. All checkoff authorization forms shall be filed with the Employer's Human Resources Director, who may return any incomplete or incorrectly completed form to the Association's Treasurer, and no checkoff shall be made until such deficiency is corrected.
C. All employees covered under this Agreement who do not voluntarily choose membership in the Association shall have deducted from their wages a percentage of the membership dues, which sum may be less than one hundred percent (100%) of said dues, upon receipt by the Employer of a signed, written card, and which sum shall accurately represent the amount for said employee due the Association as their fair share of costs attributable to negotiating the terms of this Agreement and servicing the contract, which sum shall not include, by way of example but not by way of limitation, state, national or other dues and assessments, or other amounts for other Association activities.
D. The Employer shall only checkoff obligations which come due at the time of checkoff, and will make checkoff deductions only if the employee has enough pay due to cover such obligation. The Employer is not responsible for refund to the employee if he/she has duplicated a checkoff deduction by direct payment to the Association.
E. The Employer's remittance shall be deemed correct if the Association does not give written notice to the Human Resources Director within two (2) calendar weeks after remittance is transmitted of its belief, with reason(s) stated therefore, that the remittance is incorrect.
F. The Association shall provide at least thirty (30) days written notice to the Human Resources Director of the amount of Association dues and/or service fees and/or initiation fee to be deducted from the wages of employees in accordance with this Article. Any changes in the amounts determined will also be provided to the Human Resources Director at least thirty (30) days prior to its implementation. New checkoff authorization forms shall be submitted to the Employer in the event that an increase in the Association dues or service fee is made.
G. The Association agrees to defend, indemnify and save the Employer harmless against any and all claims, suits, or other forms of liability arising out of its deduction from an employee's pay of Association dues, service fees and/or initiation fee, or in reliance upon any list, notice, certification or authorization furnished under this Article, including the termination of employment as provided under the Agency Shop provision. The Association assumes full responsibility for the disposition of the deductions so made once they have been sent to the Association.
H. The Association shall exclusively use the checkoff authorization as herein provided for on page 5.
Section 4. Continued Employment. The Association shall notify an employee who has not paid his/her dues or service fee by certified mail, with a copy to the Employer. If said employee does not pay the dues or service fee with thirty (30) days after said notice is received, the Association shall notify the Employer by certified mail of this omission. Fifteen (15) days after receipt of notification by the Employer, the Employer shall terminate said employee.
Section 5. Notice of New Hires. The Employer will provide a Association Representative the opportunity to meet with new employees at the weekly orientation session. The Association shall be responsible to receive the necessary information at orientation.
VOLUNTARY CHECKOFF AUTHORIZATION
INGHAM COUNTY EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION
Print___________________________________________________________________________ Last Name First Name Middle Initial
I certify that the Ingham County Employees' Association is my designated collective bargaining representative and I hereby authorize and direct my Employer to withhold from my earnings during this month and each successor month the amount determined by the Ingham County Employees' Association and provided in a written notice to the Employer's Personnel office for my (check one) _____ (1) Association dues; or _____ (2) Service fees; and request this amount be forwarded to the Treasurer of the Ingham County Employees' Association.
This authorization and direction shall be effective for the period of joint bargaining agreement between the Ingham County Employees' Association and my Employer, and I agree and direct that this authorization and direction shall be automatically renewed with each succeeding applicable joint bargaining agreement between the Ingham County Employees' Association and my Employer, unless written notice is given to the Ingham County Employees' Association and my Employer by me, or unless the authorization is terminated as provided for in the joint bargaining agreement.
Date: _________________ Signature: _________________________________________
Department:____________________________________________________________________
PROFESSIONAL NEGOTIATION PROCEDURE
Section 1. Meetings. The parties will cooperate in arranging meetings, furnishing necessary information and otherwise constructively considering and resolving any matters of common interest.
Section 2. Representatives. In any negotiations described in this Article, neither party shall have any control over the selection of the negotiation representatives of the other party, and each party may select its representatives from within or outside the area. It is recognized that no final agreement between the parties may be executed without ratification by a majority of the membership of the Association with the approval of the Ingham County Employees' Association, and approval by a majority of the Ingham County Board of Commissioners. The parties mutually pledge that representatives selected by each shall have the necessary power and authority to make proposals, consider proposals and make concessions in the course of negotiations, subject only to ratification approval as noted above.
Section 3. Application of Agreement. Any agreements negotiated shall apply to all members of the bargaining unit unless otherwise specified and shall be reduced to writing and signed by the authorized representatives of the department, the Association and the Ingham County Board of Commissioners.
Section 4. Negotiations or Special Conferences. The Employer agrees that Association members, engaged during their work shift in negotiations or Special Conferences on behalf of the Association with the Employer, during the term of this Agreement, shall be entitled to reasonable release time as needed without loss of salary. The number of Association members to be present at said meetings or negotiations are hereafter specified.
REPRESENTATION
Section 1. Grievance Representation. Employees in each of the units shall be represented by a steward and alternate steward, respectively. The steward and alternate steward will be a member of the bargaining unit and their selection will be determined by the bargaining unit members. The Employer will recognize the steward and alternate steward as representatives of the Association in the administration of provisions of this Agreement and the grievance procedure. The Association will keep the Employer informed, in writing, of the name of the steward and alternate steward for the unit.
A steward shall act in a representative capacity for the purpose of processing grievances for the employees in his/her unit. In the absence of the employee's steward or alternate steward, a steward or alternate steward from the other unit may be utilized for representation purposes, and if neither of these are available, then other ICEA stewards may be utilized.
Section 2. Negotiating Committee.
PHN Unit. The bargaining committee of the Association's PHN unit will include not more than three (3) bargaining unit members and two (2) alternate bargaining unit members employed by the Employer. It may also include the President of the Ingham County Employees' Association, provided the President is not a member of this unit, and non-employee representative(s) of the Ingham County Employees' Association.
Section 3. Professional Negotiations. Contract negotiation meetings between the parties may be held at times during the scheduled working hours of the Association's negotiating members. Up to two (2) employee members of the bargaining committee for the unit will be paid by the Employer for time spent in negotiation with the Employer, but only for the straight time hours they would otherwise have worked on the regular work schedule. For the purpose of computing overtime, time spent in negotiations shall be considered as hours worked to the extent of the regularly scheduled hours which otherwise would have been worked by the negotiating committee members.
Section 4. Time Off with Pay. Reasonable arrangements will be made to allow stewards time off with pay, with prior permission of their supervisor, during their regular working hours for the purpose of investigating grievances and to attend grievance meetings. Stewards shall have access to office premises for the purpose of investigation and adjusting any complaints and grievances by arranging with the respective division heads to visit such premises during regular working hours, but in no event shall the steward interfere with the maintenance or discipline of the regular work being carried on in the department. The office premises may be used for grievance interviews. Stewards shall investigate and present the grievances to the Health Officer through the grievance procedure. In the event the steward is absent, an alternate steward may perform his/her functions, provided they have conformed with the above requirements in notifying the Health Officer, giving him/her reasonable time to adjust for their absences during such periods which they are investigating or processing grievance procedures.
Section 5. Facility Access. Representatives of the Association, after first notifying the Health Officer or his/her designated representative, may visit the areas of the Facility where the registered professional nurses they represent are located for the purpose of representing such nurses in accordance with this Agreement, provided that such visits occur at reasonable intervals during working hours and they do not interfere with the normal operations of the Facility.
Section 6. Correspondence. A copy of all correspondence from the ICEA Attorney or from his/her office, addressed to any elected official, the Health Officer, or Health Department Managers, shall be sent to the County Attorney. A copy of all correspondence from the County Attorney or his/her office addressed to any ICEA Executive Board Members, Officers, or PHN unit steward shall be sent to the ICEA Attorney.
Section 7. County Information. The County Human Resources Director shall forward copies of the Administrative Services/Personnel Committee Agendas and those portions of the Agenda Packets that relate to the PHN unit to the ICEA. The Health Officer agrees to provide the ICEA with a copy of the Department's annual budget request, as submitted to the County Controller.