In the works for more than a year, a Labor-Management Forum Agreement between the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees Local 259 and the Memphis District was signed July 9 at district headquarters.
The agreement’s intent is to establish and maintain a cooperative, constructive working relationship which will provide a better quality of work life for employees, more efficient administration of District programs, and above all, better service for the District’s customers.
The forum will meet quarterly and consists of three regular representatives and two rotating members from each party - district and union. Regular representatives from the district will be the district commander, commander’s designee, supervisors or other management officials as appointed by the commander. Regular representatives from the union will be the Union president and other Local 259 Memphis District stewards/bargaining unit employees, as appointed by the union.
Agenda items will be of Memphis District-wide scope and significance. Primary issues will be those of significance that affect personnel, policies, practices, and working conditions of employees represented by IFPTE Local 259 or other issues as agreed upon by the commander or commander’s designee and the union president.
All members of the forum will have the authority to speak for their respective parties and have full and equal privileges and equal standing in all operations of the Labor-Management meeting.
Forum members and alternates will be provided training by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or the Federal Labor Relations Authority.