ARTICLE 11 - LABOR/MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

11.01 - Objective

      It is the objective of the Employer and the Association to maintain the highest standards of public service and professionalism which is to be fostered by the establishment of labor/management committees.

      The purpose of these committees is to provide a means for continuing communication between the parties and for promoting a climate of constructive employee-eEmployer relations.  Issues shall be resolved in a timely manner with any deadlines set mutually agreed upon by both Association and management representatives.  Labor/Management Committee meetings and agenda items shall be initiated by a letter from the designated management representative to the Association representative or from the designated Association representative to the designated management representative.  Agenda items will be discussed and agreed upon by these representatives no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the meeting.  No agreement may be reached on any matter that would alter in any way the terms of this Agreement.  Neither party has an obligation to resolve the issues raised.  Persons who are specialists in the subject matter under discussion may be brought into the committee by mutual agreement of the parties. Should either party wish to schedule additional meetings, such meetings shall be at the mutual consent of the parties.  Upon mutual agreement of the Labor/Management Committee, additional subcommittees may be formed to meet on issues designated by the Labor/Management Committee.  Scheduling of work hours is an appropriate subject for discussion by Agency Labor/Management Committees.

11.02 - Statewide Labor/Management Committee

      The Employer and the Association shall each appoint three (3) members to the statewide Labor/Management Committee.  This committee will meet at least biannually and discuss statewide issues which do not relate to any single employing agency.

11.03 - Agency Labor/Management Committees

      The Employer and the Association shall each appoint three (3) members to Labor/Management Committees in each of the following agencies:

      Department of Rehabilitation and Correction

      Department of Youth Services

      Department of Mental Health

      State Library of Ohio

      State School for the Deaf

      State School for the Blind

      These committees will meet upon a request by the Association, but are not required to meet more than biannually unless by mutual agreement of both parties, and discuss issues relating to the agency.

11.04 - Facility Labor/Management Committees

      The Employer and the Association may mutually agree to form a Labor/Management Committee at any facility.  Such committees may meet to discuss any issues relating to the facility.

11.05 - Quality Services Through Partnership (QStP)

A. Statement of Principle

   The Employer and the Association are mutually committed to continual improvement of quality state provided services through a joint partnership involving association leaders and staff and the bargaining unit members they represent, agency directors and  agency management staff at all levels of  organizations.  This partnership of union and management shall be known as the Quality Services Through Partnership (QStP).  The principles of this Article shall apply in all quality improvement processes utilized in agencies with OEA bargaining unit employees.  QStP will be jointly developed, implemented and monitored.  It is recognized by the parties that QStP is a separate process from the normal collective bargaining and contract administration procedures.  The purpose of QStP program will be to establish a quality work culture and environment which allows for a collaboration of management and bargaining unit talents through use of the quality processes and procedures to develop and deliver quality services through union and management teamwork and employee involvement and empowerment.  As a result of  mutual commitment to improving quality services, the parties agree that quality outcomes and improvements resulting from QStP will not be used as the basis or rationale for layoffs.

B. Scope of Activities

   No QStP or Problem Solving Team will have authority to discuss, change, modify or infringe upon issues which are related to wages, hours and terms and conditions of employment.  Whenever a matter covered by a collective bargaining agreement is raised in a QStP Quality Improvement Process Team (QIP) or Problem Solving Process Team (PSP), the matter shall be suspended until the members of the Statewide Steering Committee have expressly agreed to continued involvement by the QIP or PSP Team.  The following represent general examples of items or issues which may or may not be worked on by QStP teams:

Off Limit Activities              Acceptable Activities

Salaries                        Agency Quality Service or

Grievances                     Agency Product

Union Contract             Work Environment Safety

  Interpretations            Reduction in Paperwork

Benefits                        Savings in Time, Effort or the

State Policy and              the Handling of Materials

  Working Conditions    Improvement in Process,

Classification                  Methods or Systems

Employee Discipline      Improvement in Facilities,

Working Hours               Tools or Equipment

                                    Elimination of Waste of

                                      Materials and Supplies

                                    Reductions in Hazards to

                                      People or Property

   Whenever there is discussion over off-limit activities as stated above, or other matters which are normally reserved to the collective bargaining process, no final decision or action shall be taken except through the grievance or collective bargaining process as agreed to by the parties.

C. Steering Committees

   Quality Services through Partnership will be directed by a Joint State Steering Committee composed of an equal number of management appointees and representatives of each of the unions representing State employees which choose to participate.  The parties may mutually agree to add members to the committee.  Each agency shall also have a Joint Agency Steering Committee.  The number and composition of the committee will be determined by consensus of the State Steering Committee membership.  Each party shall determine its own representatives to serve on the statewide, agency and other QStP Committees.  Time spent on authorized QStP matters shall be considered time worked.  Whenever possible, state and agency steering committee meetings will be held between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and employees will have  regular schedule adjusted to coincide with such meetings.

   Steering Committees at each level will have the responsibility for the development of plans and activities for the implementation of principles and processes described in Section A, as well as the review of plans developed by subordinate steering committees and the oversight of QStP activities within  jurisdiction.  QStP issues and matters which are not resolved at the steering committee level may be referred to the next higher steering committee level for assistance and advice.

D. Training

   Training for all managers, supervisors, employees and union leaders and staff in the concepts, skills and techniques of the QStP processes and procedures will be conducted at the Employer's expense.  It is the intent of this agreement that insofar as it is practical, bargaining unit leadership and  exempt counterparts (e.g., local union president and officers and Agency CEO or Director or Assistant Director and Deputies will attend the same training).  Whenever possible, the training in QStP matters will be presented by a joint union/management team, members of which will be designated by each party.  The training will consist of the training offered or authorized through the State Office of Quality, as authorized by the Joint Steering Committee.

E. Employment Security Assurances

   Quality outcomes and improvements resulting from QStP will not be used as the basis or rationale for layoffs.  If, as the result of QStP actions or recommendations, classifications are changed or altered, jobs are abolished, or positions eliminated, management shall attempt to find other suitable employment within the employee's office, institution or county, in that order for those employees affected; and if necessary,  pay shall be set in accordance with Article 21.  Employees shall not be subjected to loss of pay or layoff pending suitable placement under this Section.

11.06 11.05 - Payment of Committee Members

      Employees who are committee members will be paid their base rate of pay for attendance at such meetings.  In no event shall reimbursement exceed the employee's regular daily rate of pay.  All meetings will be held during normal business hours.  Travel and meal expenses shall be made in accordance with OBM regulations.