ITEM 114-110-R0102 AGREEMENT

Tentative Agreement
between
Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters
and the
Montana University System

Modify the 1999-2001 contract as follows.

1. ARTICLE I Section A. Contract Term

Section B. Negotiations Schedule

Change 1999 to 2001 and change 2001 to 2003.

2. ARTICLE VI Section B.5.e. Policy Manual

Change to read: An employee or the bargaining agent shall be furnished, upon request, a current copy of any official policy or procedure of the employer relating to the terms or conditions of employment of employees in the bargaining unit.

3. ARTICLE IX Section B. Prior to Change of Position

Delete the words: reclassified consistent with the procedures of the statewide classification system,

4. ARTICLE X Section A. Probationary Period

Change the second sentence to read: The first four (4) calendar months of employment of any employee hired into a permanent position shall be a period of probation.

5. ARTICLE XI Section H.1. Group Insurance

Change the first sentence to read: The employer contribution to health insurance for eligible employees shall be $325.00 per month for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002 and $366.00 per month for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.

6. ARTICLE XI               

Add the following new section: O. Ethical Conduct

Public employees have a special obligation to carry out their duties for the benefit of the people of the state and to avoid taking actions that cause them to violate the publics trust. State law at 2-2-101 through 2-2-3-4 MCA includes several specific prohibitions and provides for significant penalties including fines and imprisonment for violators.

7. ARTICLE XIV GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Section D. Grievance Committee

Change to read: Within ten (10) days from receipt of the Personnel Officer's or designated grievance officer's response the bargaining agent may submit a written request to have the grievance heard by a grievance committee. Upon receipt of such

request, the Commissioner of Higher Education shall appoint a committee comprised of three (3) members selected by management and three (3) members selected by the bargaining agent to hear the grievance. No employee of the unit from which the grievance originated may be selected by management or the bargaining agent to serve on the committee. The grievance committee shall conduct the hearing at the unit from which the grievance originated and shall arrive at a decision within ten (10) working days following the date upon which the grievance is heard by the committee.

8. ARTICLE XV Section B.4.d. Employer to Furnish Reason for Discharge

Change to read: The employer shall furnish, upon demand, a written statement of the reasons for discharge. (39-2-801, M.C.A.)

9. ARTICLE XV Section B.4.i. Duration of Warning Letter Limited

Change to read: The first warning letter that an employee receives will not remain in the personnel file for longer than one (1) year unless there are repeated offenses or insufficient progress. Warning letters may be removed earlier than one (1) year by agreement of the Human Resources Director and the bargaining agent. If the first warning letter is to remain in the file for longer than six (6) months, the employee will be provided an interim written progress report by the supervisor within six (6) months from the issuance of the warning letter. Warning letters which are applicable to pending legal or quasi-legal proceedings may be retained in a separate file. Upon conclusion of the legal or quasi-legal proceeding, the warning letter shall be destroyed. The bargaining agent shall receive a copy of all warning letters. The employee who receives a warning letter shall have the right to file a grievance.

10. ADDENDUM A. WAGES

Change as follows:

Effective November 1, 2001 wages shall be increased 65 cents per hour and effective November 1, 2002 wages shall be increased 67 cents per hour. Foreman compensation shall be $1.10 greater than the journeyman rate.

(Retroactive pay will be provided only to permanent employees who are employed on the date of union ratification.)

c. Locksmith Responsibilities: Change 35 cents to 40 cents.

11. Add the following memorandum of understanding:

The employer will agree, upon request of the bargaining agent, to open the 2001-2003 collective bargaining agreement for renegotiations in the event that any other craft bargaining unit settles for 1) an across-the-board wage rate increase greater than 4% (unless such bargaining unit chooses to participate in the Montana Achievement Project), 2) earlier implementation date, or 3) a change to bi-weekly payroll periods.