Article 50
Headquarters Transit Subsidy Program

In recognition of DOE's role in conserving energy and of Headquarters and NTEU's roles as positive supporters of energy-saving measures such as public transportation, the parties agree to the following measures to promote employee use of the Subsidy for Energy Employees' Transit (SEET) Program.

Effective January 1, 2000, the agency will participate in the transit subsidy program to the maximum extent possible (currently $65 per month, but this may change if the maximum possible amount changes) as long as such participation does not adversely impact the availability of funds for employees' salaries, promotions, or awards. At the outset of each fiscal year, DOE will provide NTEU with budgetary information that establishes the funding source. If that source changes, DOE will provide NTEU with updated budgetary information that enables NTEU to see where funds are coming from to support this program.

If management claims the unavailability of funds to pay public transportation subsidies or foresees adverse impact on funds for employees' salaries, promotions, or awards at any level of the organization, management will provide NTEU with documentation to support the claim and both parties shall reserve the right to reopen negotiations with respect to this claim.

Applications for participation in the program will be available in the NTEU offices at Forrestal and in Germantown, in addition to other locations identified by Management. Distribution of fare cards will be based on an employee's ZIP code to ensure that those employees whose commuting expenses are less than the maximum level of the subsidy are not in jeopardy of being overpaid. In order to receive a farecard under the SEET program, employees must certify that the farecard will be used for their commute to work only and that they are not receiving any other form of transportation subsidy from the Federal government, such as a carpool permit for parking at a Federal building.

The Headquarters Transit Subsidy Program will be announced to employees in an all-employee notice and in joint NTEU-DOE briefing meetings. At the meetings, the parties will explain the program and answer questions. Unanswered questions will be answered within 7 days. NTEU will be provided 30 minutes at the end of the meeting to meet with employees without the Employer present. All time spent in the briefing and in follow-up meetings will be administrative time for impacted employees and official time for union representatives.