13.1 The parties agree to defer discussions regarding the classification system changes promulgated by the Personnel System Reform Act of 2002 (PSRA). The parties agree that discussion regarding the classification system is a permissive subject of bargaining and this Agreement is not intended to alter that understanding.
The discussions will commence no later than sixty (60) days following DOP’s implementation of Phase One of the statewide revision of the classification system (Phase One is scheduled to be implemented on or about July 1, 2005).
During this period of discussion, the current classifications with their respective pay levels are hereby incorporated into this contract as Appendix I. The existing class specifications for these jobs are considered in effect upon the execution of this contract.
13.2 (a) Should the University decide to create, eliminate or modify class specifications which does not involve a major restructure to the overall classification system, it will notify the Union in advance of implementing the action. Notification will include the bargaining unit status of the classification and, for a newly created or modified classification considered to be in the bargaining unit, a proposed salary. Notification will occur at least thirty (30) days in advance of any proposed implementation date. At the Union's request the University will meet and confer with the Union over its proposed action.
(b) An employee occupying a position reallocated to a class with a lower salary range maximum due to a class being created, abolished or modified will retain the salary of their former position until reaching the top of the range of the former position, and then will be frozen until the new class pay range catches up.
An employee(s) occupying a position reallocated to a class with a higher salary range due to a class being created, abolished or modified will receive the same step in the new range as the employee(s) held in the previous range. The periodic increment date of the employee will remain unchanged.
(c) Within thirty (30) calendar days following implementation of the University's decision to create or combine classifications per 13.2, or modify class specifications for bargaining unit positions, the Union may file an appeal with the Classification Review Hearing Officer selected under Article 14 of this contract, to determine if the salary assigned to the classification is appropriate.
13.3 The Union may, at any time, propose a new classification with appropriate justification. These proposals will be reviewed by the Compensation Office of Human Resources which will accept, reject, or modify any proposal. This review is not grievable.
13.4 The University agrees to notify the Union of any proposed reclassifications of occupied bargaining unit positions into non-bargaining unit positions.