4 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, May 27, 2010 New AFGE Master Labor Agreement now official By Mary Anne Broderick Tubman Navy Region Southeast Public Affairs Nationally recognized master labor agreement, believed to the largest of its kind in the U.S. Navy, is now in force for more than 2,800 bargaining unit employ- ees represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) at 16 instal- lations within Navy Region Southeast (NRSE). The agreement also applies to AFGE employees at the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast (NAVFAC SE) and the Fleet Industrial Supply Center Jacksonville (FISCJ). The final version of the agree- ment, which was ratified in September 2009, was approved and signed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) April 27, 2010. The concept of a master agree- ment for the three commands, all of which are headquartered in Jacksonville, began in 2008 when labor relations staff, AFGE lead- ership, and senior management first discussed the advantages of replacing numerous labor agree- ments with one consistent docu- ment that would create a commu- nity of interest for all employees represented by AFGE. Following months of research and preparation, labor and man- agement parties forged the new contract in August 2009, after only six days of negotiation at the Federal Aviation Administration Center for Management and Executive Leadership in Palm Coast, Fla. "This is an outstanding agree- ment that will serve AFGE members in the Southeast for a long time to come," said Gregg Williams, labor relations program director for NRSE. Williams, along with Human Resources Specialist Mike Hoff, provided administrative support and tech- nical guidance to the negotiating teams. "Negotiating an agreement of this size instead of many small- Photo by MC1 Monica Nelson Rear Adm. T.G. Alexander, commander, Navy Region Southeast (NRSE), joins Jim Rountree, NRSE regional busi- ness manager, left; and NSB Kings Bay, Ga. AFGE Local President and Chief Negotiator Mark McCabe in the sign- ing of a letter introducing the new Master Labor Agreement for employees of NRSE, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast and the Fleet Industrial Supply Center Jacksonville represented by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Also pictured, from left, are Bruce Cwalina, senior executive service and NRSE executive director, Terry Baker, NRSE regional counsel, and Steve Bird, AFGE local representative for NSB Kings Bay, Ga. er ones has saved thousands of hours in resources. This is a good business practice that other com- mon entities throughout the Navy can use. It makes sense, and it works." Williams believes the AFGE unified agreement will chart new waters for future contract nego- tiations throughout the Navy, and hopes bargaining units of other claimants within NRSE, such as the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery (BUMED) and the Personnel Support Detachment (PSD), will adopt the agreement in the future. For FISCJ, the new master con- tract is a major accomplishment that will serve more than 300 employees in 12 different loca- tions. "In the past, we've had as many as 20 different agreements," said Cmdr. John Zollo of FISCJ. "Since they were all autono- mous, Kingsville's grievance pro- cess might have been different than Mayport's. Now, the rules will be the same across our foot- print. This agreement will serve as a model for others down the road." The NAVFAC SE employs approximately 913 employees rep- resented by AFGE at 18 of its 21 worksites, out of its total work- force of 1,760 employees. Like others involved in the negotiation process, Gino Andreoletti, chief negotiator for NAVFAC SE, sees the benefits of the master collective bargaining agreement. "For NAVFAC SE, the new agreement consolidates eight dif- ferent collective bargaining agree- ments into one, with standardized language and procedures so that our employees and management staff have only one to follow," Andreoletti said. Mark McCabe, local union pres- ident at NSB Kings Bay, Ga. and chief negotiator for AFGE, plans to introduce the many changes encompassed in the new contract through joint labor/management training. "I believe that both the bargain- ing units and the mission will be well served by the new contract," said McCabe, a veteran of seven previous contract negotiations. "While this one was by far one of the most challenging, the work was worth the effort." Philip Adams, of the FISCJ Office of Counsel, who served with Tom Kathe of the NAVFAC SE Office of Counsel as legal advisors to the management nego- tiation team, agrees. "To get three commands to view this contract as a common prod- uct, where special interests were put aside for the greater good, speaks highly of the work of the negotiating teams," he said. The master labor agreement will remain in effect for three years, and can be renewed auto- matically thereafter with the con- sensus of all affected parties. "We're looking forward to work- ing with AFGE to implement the provisions of the new contract," said Jim Rountree, regional busi- ness manager for CNRSE and principal negotiator for the man- agement group. Special Asian/Pacific Islander meal planned at From Staff n celebration of Asian/ Pacific Islander Month, the Flight Line Caf6 will be hosting a special meal May 27 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The cost is $4.25. The following is the menu: Egg drop soup Flight Line Caf6 Hawaiian style roasted pork Teriyaki pepper steak Pancit style noodles Fried lumpia w/ sweet and sour sauce Japanese stir-fry Korean seasoned spinach Hawaiian coleslaw Coconut layered cake For more information, call 542-3854. Every 2010 Dodge Ram Truck in stock. Auto, Crew Cab, 5.7 Hemi Engine, A/C and More Starting At Only *221F988 Every 2010 Chrysler Town and Country or Dodge Caravan Auto, V6, Stow & Go Seating, Rear A/C, Power Windows, Power Locks and More Starting At Only 20o, 988 Grammy-winning country act Zac Brown Band \has teamed with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Truck dealerships to launch "Leters For Lyrics," participants write a letter to a member of the US lNMilitary, in exchange for a copy of a special V compilation CD, Breaking Southern Ground, from the Zac Brown Band. They'll also earn a free download of an exclusive live version of the band's latest single, "Free," and will have access to footage from the Zac Brown Band's USO tours. 3-)NRMv&1 ___j