Notice
Departments or units contemplating changes to the working environment that affect employees, have to provide information about certain kinds of changes to the exclusive representatives (unions).
You will want to begin informing your employees about your plans as early as possible. When a proposal has reached the stage of being reasonably certain (but not cast in stone yet), it is time to send information to the unions involved. Notice is the term used to describe this information process and you will hear it referred to as both a verb and a noun
What is a Notice
The collective bargaining agreement (contract) and case law requires the employer to provide reasonable notice of substantial changes in terms and conditions of employment, with the opportunity for the union or non-exclusively represented employee to comment before the change is implemented.
Why Provide Notice
In some cases, whether or not to provide notice is outlined in the contract, such as that between the university and AFSCME. Case law issued by the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) of the State of California also creates the obligation to notice. For classifications not represented by an exclusive representative, those covered by Personnel Policies for Staff (PPSM), PERB obligates the university to provide notice directly to the employee.
The Employee and Labor Relations Office issues notices based on the nature of the obligation, and on the information provided by the department. The Notice of Intent to Change Conditions of Employment form has been developed to assist you in providing information about your proposed change.
When to Notice
One way to find out whether notice is needed is to look up the action you are proposing in the bargaining unit agreement. For example, the AFSCME contract provides specific time constraints for issuing Work Rules, likewise for establishing an Alternate Work Schedule.
Additionally, when a contract expires, the conditions requiring notice expand. The Status Quo Period: When a Contract Expires presents discussion of these circumstances. Lastly, you can contact the Employee and Labor Relations Representative assigned to the specific bargaining unit.
Notice Time Frame
The lead-time for notice depends on the action you are considering, and the review period specified in the contract. You should build in time for meetings and other discussions with the union(s). A frequent mistake is only allowing the minimum review period; say 45 calendar days, before the proposed action implementation date. If the union responds to the notice on the 29th day, you will most likely miss your target date.
It is appropriate to have the notice period expire a week or two before your proposed implementation date.
When a Notice Is Not Necessary
Some actions don't call for notice, such change of assignment within a classification or a change of supervisors. Employees don't have a right to always perform the same set of duties within their classification, nor do they have a right to the same supervisor forever.
Changes in the hours of a regular shift schedule, such as from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., do not necessarily require notice. However, you should remember that your employees must make adjustments to their personal schedules, so try to give at least a 15-calendar-day notice to the individual employees. Courtesy notice may be provided to the unions, but it is not required.
There are other times when notice may not be necessary, but it's advised to check with an Employee and Labor Relations Representative beforehand.