Ground Rules for Negotiations - The City of Satellite Beach

NEGOTIATIONS GROUND RULES AGREEMENT
CITY OF SATELLITE BEACH AND IAFF, LOCAL 2969
This Negotiations Ground Rules Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “the
Agreement”) is entered into between the City of Satellite Beach (hereinafter referred to
as “the City”) and the International Association of Firefighters, Local 2969 (hereinafter
referred to as “the IAFF”). As used in this agreement, the City and the IAFF shall be
referred to as “the parties”.
In consideration of the mutual promises exchanged between the parties, the City
and the IAFF agree to negotiate in accordance with the terms outlined in this
Agreement. These ground rules shall only be in effect for initial contract negotiations
between the parties, and shall not be applicable once a collective bargaining agreement
is arrived at through the procedures set forth in Chapter 447, Florida Statutes.
The parties agree as follows:
1. Negotiations. Negotiations will take place between the City and the IAFF for
two separate bargaining units certified by the Public Employees Relations
Commission (PERC) as certification number 1797 (Firefighter,
Firefighter/Paramedic, Firefighter/EMT and Fire Marshall) and certification
number 1798 (Captain). Negotiations shall take place at the same time for both
units, with the understanding that, unless agreed to otherwise, any collective
bargaining agreement arrived at will require separate ratification votes by the
members of each unit. Either party also reserves the right at any time during
negotiations to insist upon changing from a combined unit negotiation format to a
separate unit negotiation format.
2. Locations. Bargaining sessions will be held at the Satellite Beach City Hall at
no cost to either party, whenever that location is available.
3. Dates and Times. Bargaining sessions will be scheduled by mutual agreement
as necessary.
4. Chief Negotiators. There shall be one (1) Chief Negotiator for each party,
except that he/she may, on occasion, request a team member or other resource
person to address a specific issue. It is understood that no tentative agreement
on any Article is effective unless specifically agreed to in writing by the Chief
Negotiators for each party. Each party reserves the right to determine who will
serve on their respective bargaining teams.
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5. Communications. Bargaining shall only take place between the parties’
respective bargaining teams. IAFF bargaining unit members shall not
communicate with the City Council members of the City of Satellite Beach in an
attempt to influence negotiations. City Council members shall in turn not
communicate with IAFF bargaining unit members in an attempt to influence
negotiations.
6. Release Time. Bargaining sessions will be scheduled between the hours of
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday whenever possible. IAFF
bargaining team members who are scheduled to be on duty at the time
negotiations are set shall be released from duty for the time that negotiations
take place (not for preparation or travel time), unless operational needs prevent
such release time. IAFF bargaining team members who are not on duty at the
time negotiations are set shall attend on their own time. The City reserves the
right at any time during initial negotiations to withdraw this release time
agreement and require any and all bargaining unit members to participate in
negotiations on behalf of IAFF on their own time.
7. Data. All requests for data shall be in writing. Both parties will cooperate in
providing requested information as soon as possible.
8. Written Proposals.
a. All written proposals and material shall be submitted in an electronic
format.
b. Each party shall endeavor to submit its entire bargaining package by the
fifth bargaining session.
c. All proposals shall be submitted in contract form language whenever
possible.
9. Agreements.
a. Articles and materials agreed to by the parties will be reduced to writing,
duplicated, dated and signed by the Chief Negotiators.
b. If tentative agreements are reached on all articles to be included in the
contract, the IAFF bargaining committee shall present the contract to their
respective memberships for ratification, and encourage the bargaining unit
members’ to ratify the tentative agreement. The IAFF bargaining
committee shall then notify the City’s Chief Negotiator about the result of
the ratification vote.
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10. Recording. No mechanical or other recording devices shall initially be used
during the negotiations sessions. The City and the IAFF reserve the right at any
time during negotiations to modify this position and electronically record
sessions. Each party is responsible for taking its own notes.
11. Arrangements. The date and time of the next negotiations meeting shall, if
possible, be agreed to before the close of each bargaining session.
12. Caucus. A caucus may be called at any time during negotiations by the Chief
Negotiators. The caucuses will be part of the regular negotiations meeting. It
should not be longer than one half hour. Caucuses shall not be used by either
party to prepare for negotiations that day. Preparation and discussion of
bargaining issues to be negotiated at the table should be done prior to the
scheduled negotiations. Each side should be fully prepared to negotiate at each
bargaining sessions.
13. Media and Communications. During the negotiation period, neither party may
issue any statement to any news media. Negotiations are confidential to the
extent permitted by law.
14. Non-Recrimination or Discrimination. The City agrees that there shall be no
recrimination or discrimination against IAFF bargaining committee members for
any action taken or statements made at any bargaining session; provided that
such actions or statements are reasonably within the scope of their
responsibilities as employees of the City and reasonably within the scope of their
responsibilities as representatives of the IAFF.
15. Amendments. These Ground Rules shall only be amended and changed,
added to, or deleted by mutual agreement between the City and the IAFF.
For the IAFF
For the City
By: _________________________
Date: _______________________
By: _____________________________
Date: ____________________________
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