Section 1. Union Access
The Union and its agents, including but not limited to stewards, elected local officers, UE field staff, and UE regional and national officers, shall have access to MIT’s facilities for the transaction of necessary Union business relating to this Agreement so long as normal business and classroom activities are not disrupted. This may mean requesting and receiving advance permission to enter MIT laboratories and research centers and scheduling a time with relevant principal investigators or heads of departments, labs, or centers (DLCs) so as to limit any disruption to work.
Union representatives shall comply with any applicable MIT policies on visitor access to the campus, as well as relevant health, safety, and national security regulations.
The Union shall have the right to communicate with employees using their MIT-provided email addresses.
Section 2. Meeting Space
Subject to availability, the Union shall have access to adequate meeting space on campus at no cost. The Union understands that if MIT charges a fee for student groups to use a given meeting space, the Union may also be charged such fees if it elects to use that space. Requests may be made to MIT for recurring meetings or other regular use by any agent of the Union for the purposes of administering this Agreement. The Union agrees to comply with all MIT regulations and policies regarding the reservation and use of such facilities.
Section 3. Bulletin Boards
The Union shall have access to space on existing bulletin boards in DLCs that employ unit employees. If no such bulletin boards exist, MIT will provide appropriate space for any postings in that DLC. All postings by the Union shall be done in accordance with MIT policies regarding bulletin board access and MIT policies and practices relating to the time, place, and manner of postings and conduct. The Union shall be permitted to post notices, flyers, and posters pertaining to Union interests and activities on these bulletin boards, including but not limited to meetings, dues, social activities, and general Union matters. The Union shall have sole discretion on the content of said materials except in cases where the posting violates MIT nondiscrimination, harassment, and/or other conduct policies. MIT shall not selectively enforce any aforementioned policies or practices against the Union.
Section 4. Communication
Following ratification and approval by the parties, MIT shall prepare a digital version of this Agreement, distribute it to the Union, and publish it on a designated website. MIT’s Office of Labor Relations shall post a link to the Union’s website on its own website.
Section 5. Stewards and Other Representatives
Upon providing prior reasonable notice to their supervisor, employees elected as stewards and local officers shall be permitted reasonable time to investigate, present, process, and support the processing of grievances on MIT property during time they would normally be carrying out duties related to their work appointment, so long as it does not disrupt MIT operations and the employees are able to make up the time.
Employees elected or otherwise designated by the Union to represent it for the purposes of bargaining with MIT shall be permitted reasonable time during regular work hours to attend bargaining sessions with the administration, provided they can make up the time.
Section 6. Orientation
Union representatives shall be given reasonable time by MIT at the main orientation for new graduate students at which incoming employees are expected, in order to address employees in attendance. Additionally, the Union may identify and request reasonable time at department-, school/college-, and/or program-level orientations at which incoming employees are expected, in order to address employees in attendance. The Institute shall not unreasonably deny such requests. The Union shall be allowed to distribute Union materials at such orientations.
MIT shall notify the Union of the date for the main graduate student orientation as soon as practicable, but no later than twenty-one (21) calendar days in advance. MIT shall not require new student-employees’ presence elsewhere during the main graduate student orientation.