1.  SPACE:

a. The Employer agrees to provide one desk or workstation per office for use by Union representatives who have not been assigned a permanent desk.  The Employer agrees to provide the Union President sole use equipment as needed, including a telephone with voice mail, where available, and a computer with e-mail and a separate e-mail address. A sole use office for the Union President will be provided where available.

b.  The Employer shall identify existing and available bar lock cabinets. In agencies where available cabinets exist, the Employer will provide the designated representative one cabinet with a minimum of two drawers. In Agencies where no existing cabinets are available, and there is a designated representative, the Employer shall provide a two drawer cabinet. In both cases the Employer and designated Union representative shall work together to identify a mutually agreeable location for cabinet placement.

c.  On a space available basis, the Employer will provide the Union with space for Union meetings of bargaining unit members who are in a non-duty status. Requests for use of space for meetings must be initiated in advance.  Normally the Union will provide two (2) days notice prior to the meeting so that the availability of the space may be determined. This space will be provided at a time when security requirements would not cause additional managerial hours to be worked, or when additional costs would not be incurred. When security requirements conflict, an alternate time or location for the meeting will be established.

d.  The Employer acknowledges that it is desirable for the Union representative to have access to space which is reasonably private to conduct meetings with employees and conduct other required representational duties. Where the employer has such space available, it will be made available to the representative to the extent feasible. Depending upon the situation this space may be assigned indefinitely or temporarily.

e.  The Union understands that the Employer has the right to preempt for their use space previously provided to or reserved by the Union. When the Employer determines the need to relocate or temporarily preempt for its own use space previously used or reserved by the Union, the Employer's representative and the appropriate Union official will negotiate on the change, attempting alternative arrangements to provide not less than the previous amount of space.

f.  The union will comply with all Employer security and GSA buildings management regulations with respect to its use of any facilities.

g.  The Union agrees to exercise reasonable care in using such space, and will leave it in a clean and orderly condition. The Union understands that its failure to leave space in a clean and orderly condition would be cause for a suspension or termination of this privilege.

h.  The employer will notify the union prior to undertaking any moves of more than one bargaining unit employee. The union may request negotiations as appropriate.

a.  The Employer will permit Union representatives to use computers and printers.  Such use is authorized as long as only small amounts of paper are involved and as long as the use does not interfere with official government business.  The Union must supply the paper if more than small amounts of paper will be used.

b.  E-mail and the Passport Services Intranet may be used by Union representatives for representational and other Union purposes, excluding collection of dues and election of officers.

(See February 8, 2005 Amendment)

The Union will pay for Agency long distance telephone services used for internal Union business.

The use of the Agency FAX facilities may be made available to the Union to communicate documents to management officials and to communicate documents to Union officials for representational purposes.

4. INTERNAL MAIL SERVICE:

a.  The Employer will permit the Union to use the existing Passport Services mail and distribution facilities to correspond with:

(1) Members of the bargaining unit;

(2) Union officials; and

(3) Appropriate management officials on matters concerned with the Union's role in administering this agreement.  The Union will place such correspondence in individually addressed envelopes.

b.  The Employer will not charge the Union for this mail and distribution service. The Employer will not process or pay for the Union's mailing through the U.S. or any other franked mail system.

a.  Bulletin board space of approximately 24" by 36" for posting notices and literature, limited to NFFE local use only, will be made available at each location.

b.  The Union is responsible for posting and maintaining material on its bulletin boards in an orderly manner.

c.  The Union agrees that all material posted on union bulletin boards will be appropriate for a professional work place, be factually correct, and will comply with all applicable laws.

d.  All postings will be marked prominently as "Union Notices", and only the designated bulletin boards will be used for such postings.

e.  The Union assumes all responsibility for the preparation and reproduction of materials posted under this Section.

g.  Management has the right to remove any union material not posted in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

The Agreement will also be made available electronically via the Passport Services Intranet as it becomes available.  Amendments to this Agreement will be distributed through the same channels agreed upon for the distribution of the Agreement itself.

7. UNION ACCESS TO REGULATIONS:

a.  The Employer will make available to the Union officials publications of the Office of Personnel Management, the Merit Systems Protection Board, including regulations, supplements and classification standards which may be available. In addition, upon request, each Regional or Office Director will provide the Union officials access to OPM and Passport Services/ Department of State policy directives and regulations relating to unit employees or their working environment, if available.

b.  The Employer agrees to provide the Union President with copies of appropriate 3 FAM regulations along with copies of PPT directives and regulations.

Union representatives may be permitted to use typewriters.  Requests will be granted where the employer determines the work permits and the machines are available.