| NASE Consultative Agreement Between Farm Service Agency (FSA) and National Association of Support Employees of the FSA (NASE) |
SECTION 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 1. PURPOSE The purpose of this agreement is to recognize the NASE as an organization representing FSA Federal support employees in the field.. The object of the parties is to work together to develop a constructive, productive relationship and to allow both NASE and FSA to present and share views on appropriate issues. 2. RECOGNITION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL To retain recognition at the state level, NASE must have membership of a majority of eligible Federal employees statewide by January 1, 1998. This agreement will renew automatically if NASE represents a majority of eligible Federal employees statewide. If NASE membership is less than a majority of eligible Federal employees, FSA and NASE will reexamine the membership requirements, and revisit this agreement with NASE to assure sufficient membership to provide worthwhile dialogue with the agency. NASE agrees to represent all support employees in the field, whether members or not. 3. JOINT RESPONSIBILITIES The parties to this agreement pledge themselves to conduct all consultations objectively and in good faith to the purpose of fair and equitable solutions. They will make every effort to reach agreement on all matters within a reasonable period of time. SECTION 2 OFFICIAL TIME AND USE OF FACILITIES 4. ANNUAL MEETINGS FSA and NASE agree to hold an annual consultative meeting. NASE attendees will include the NASE Board of Directors, , which shall consist of five national officers and the four Zone representatives. Official time, travel, and per diem is authorized for this consultative meeting. FSA and NASE agree to hold an annual general meeting in or around January. This meeting will be held in conjunction with other national associations, but NASE will be provided time to meet separately with FSA officials. Official time, travel and per diem are authorized for this general meeting for up to 3 NASE participants. 5. AGENCY SPONSORED MEETINGS Official time, travel and per diem is approved for any meeting authorized by the agency. NASE may request meetings as needed, and if the agency concurs the meeting is necessary for the benefit of the service, official time, travel and per diem is authorized. The agency will invite a member(s) of the NASE to be a part of each task force where the subject matter is of importance to the FSA support employees in the field. 6. ANNUAL NASE CONVENTION Two days of official time is authorized for the following to attend the annual convention:
The two days of the annual convention that is authorized as official time will be exclusively agency business. The agenda will be provided to the Deputy Administrator for Management for review prior to the annual convention. Official time to attend the annual NASE convention shall be cleared in advance through the supervisor. No travel or per diem is authorized for the annual NASE Convention. FSA management staff will attend the NASE national convention as requested by NASE as time and funds allow. 7. ANNUAL ZONE MEETING 1 day official time is authorized for the NASE President or designee to attend each NASE zone meeting. A maximum of 4 days annually is authorized for the NASE President or designee to attend annual zone meetings. 1 day official time is authorized for the NASE Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Past President, zone representatives, or designees to attend their respective annual zone meeting. One day of official time is authorized for the State President or designee to attend their respective annual zone meetings, not to exceed a total of 38 days. Official time to attend zone meetings shall be cleared in advance through the supervisor. No travel or per diem is authorized for the annual zone meeting. FSA management staff will attend the zone meetings as requested by NASE, as time and funds allow. 8. ANNUAL REPORT ON OFFICIAL TIME FOR CONVENTION, ZONE MEETING NASE is required to send a quarterly report to the Deputy Administrator for Management showing the use of official time to attend the annual convention and zone meetings, by state. 9. OTHER USE OF OFFICIAL TIME Official time is authorized for official agency business only. Internal NASE business such as the solicitation of membership, collection of dues, election of officers, preparation of newsletter, etc, shall be conducted during non-duty hours of the employees involved. 10. POSTAGE AND STATIONARY Use of FSA postage and stationary are authorized for official agency business only. 11. USE OF FTS FTS is authorized for official agency business only. 12. FSA XEROX AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS Xerox and internal distribution systems are reserved for official agency business only. The following exception is permitted. Use of Xerox and internal distribution systems are permitted for copying and distributing NASE newsletter to FSA offices, provided that copying is not done on official time and no postage fees are incurred. 13. USE OF FILE CABINETS, SUPPLIES AND OFFICE EQUIPMENT File cabinets, supplies, or office equipment are reserved for official agency business only. FSA will permit the use of available space for NASE meetings, where such use will not conflict with the performance of official functions. Official space when available at no added costs may also be used for NASE files. NASE is responsible for exercising reasonable care in the use of such facilities. 14. DUES WITHHOLDING NASE members are authorized to effect voluntary allotment for the payment of dues to NASE, subject to requirements of the National Finance Center. 15. EFFECTIVE DATE AND AMENDMENT This agreement is effective upon written approval by FSA and NASE. The provisions of this agreement may be opened for amendment at any time by FSA or NASE. Such modification shall become effective only after written approval by FSA and NASE. 16. RENEWAL This agreement is subject to renewal on an annual basis, beginning on January 1, 1998. APPROVALS For the National Associations of Support Employees: JoDee Bryant President, NASE , 12/11/1996 For the Farm Service Agency: Earl C. Hadlock Deputy Administrator for Management, 12/11/1996 John Stencil Deputy Administrator For Program Deliver and Field Operations, 12/11/1996 Grant Buntrock Administrator, 12/11/1996 |