______________________________________________
From:
Lewis, Carol A.
Sent:
Wednesday, April 09, 2008 1:03 PM
To:
Dejuliis, Ralph
Subject:
FW: DRESS CODE
Importance:
High
______________________________________________
From:
Dejuliis, Ralph
Sent:
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 9:36 AM
Subject:
FW: DRESS CODE
Importance:
High
______________________________________________
From:
Dejuliis, Ralph
Sent:
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 9:36 AM
To:
Black, Richard FO Enid; Campbell, Lannette
Cc:
Edd, Ylita; Schmidt, Michelle
Subject:
RE: DRESS CODE
Importance:
High
The union wishes to negotiate over SSA's proposed change in past practice regarding dress code and/or the creation of a Friday casual day, in the circumstances as you have proposed. The Union does not agree with SSA's oral proposals, which, do not actually appear to be firm and which appear to be subject to change and negotiation with the staff.
The Union's two negotiators will be myself and Ylita.
Please have our managers issue travel authorization and travel orders pursuant to Article 4 of the National Agreement.
Under no circumstances does the Union agree, approve or acquiesce to SSA management addressing these issues with staff, individually or at a staff meeting. Bargaining will take place only between management's representatives and myself and Ylita, the Union's two designated negotiators, not with the staff, by-passing the exclusive representative (i.e., the Union).
Some additional information which you may not have, might also be helpful.
SSA proposed a dress code in the national contract negotiations. See the attached proposal, Article 3, Section 11 on pages 17-18.
<<SSA's dress code proposa - Article 03 05-13-04.doc>>
That language has been withdrawn and the Union is not going to agree to let SSA management in Enid implement language which SSA was not able to obtain nationally. (See Article 7)
Please provide the Union with your written proposals so that we may understand how it differs from SSA's current, informal nationwide dress code which may be found at http://co.ba.ssa.gov/ope/cpps/APR-Part1-6.html#DressingAppropriately which states in its entirety:
Dressing Appropriately
You are expected to
observe standards of dress and appearance that are:
SSA will not prescribe what you may wear unless:
You are required to wear a uniform or safety equipment.
In order to be prepared to fully negotiate SSA's proposals, the Union requests, pursuant to 5 USC 7114(b )(4), documentation of the above (e.g., community standards, how the wearing of tennis shoes and jean Monday through Thursday presents a safety hazard and disrupts the employees and/or public, etc.)
So that SSA understands that there are other dress code issues for which SSA will have to make very strong arguments because the Union has arbitrated and won those dress code issues. Please see note that some of these case pre-date our employment with SSA!
<<Discipline for refusing order to wear necktie overtunred.pdf>> <<Wearing Neck-Ties.pdf>> <<Good Taste-Appropriate Attire-Union Logo.pdf>> <<Proud to be Union T-Shirt.pdf>>
The Union notes that tennis shoes and
jeans were NOT a problem when Enid wasn't making its performance goals.
Since management recently held a staff
meeting thanking the employees for their hard work in achieving management's
performance and production, the Union is puzzled and bewildered that
management is expressing its thanks for the employees' hard work by imposing
a dress code.
It seems to the Union that tennis shoes and jeans (every day of the work week) was correlated to an improvement in production and performance, so much so, that Enid made its goals. Is management now trying to sabotage employee morale and performance and production by imposing a dress code? It seems that some one has decided to create a problem where there was none. The Union notes that the District Manager conducts in-person, face-to-face interviews with members of the public and has attended public functions as a representative of SSA wearing sandals and white socks. The Union doesn't see any problems his dress or with employees wearing tennis shoes and jeans. I hope you can understand why the Union is perplexed by management now deciding that tennis shoes and jeans are inappropriate but sandals and white socks are not.
Oh well, sometimes people do crazy, counter-productive things when they have too much time on their hands. Sometimes people can't resist tinkering when they have a good thing going and things are going right. Often, they simply make things worse, operating on the notion that if something ain't broke, it needs to be fixed!
Ylita is out this week. I will be out of the office the first week in May. Can we schedule our negotiations for next week?
Thank you, in advance, for your anticipated cooperation!
/s/
Ralph de Juliis
EVP, AFGE Local 2505
_____________________________________________
From:
Schmidt, Michelle
Sent:
Thursday, April 14, 2005 7:30 AM
To:
Dejuliis, Ralph
Cc:
Edd, Ylita
Subject:
DRESS CODE
Our Adm has officially met with me regarding dress code. She was to stop the wearing of tennis shoes and only wear jeans on Fridays. She met with me yesterday. She asked me what I thought about this and I told her I did not think the staff would be receptive. She is going to bring it up in staff meeting next week to see if the staff can come to some type of agreement.