NSWC Indian Head EOD Technology Division –
INDIAN HEAD, Md. ─ It’s been more than 20 years since the last collective bargaining agreement (CBA) was signed between Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division (IHEODTD) and American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), local 1923. On September 12, both union and command representatives officially recognized the new CBA at a signing ceremony at the NSWC IHEODTD Velocity Center.
“Reaching the agreement on the new CBA took a significant amount of work by both parties,” said Bill Shea, NSWC IHEODTD Director of Human Resources. “Collectively, we were able to come up with a new agreement that struck the appropriate balance between employee-friendly policies and mission accomplishment. At times, this required compromise by both parties. The impact of these efforts; however, will be felt for years to come, and I look forward to continuing our partnership with AFGE, local 1923 as we implement the new provisions contained within the CBA.”
Following the 2013 disestablishment of NSWC Naval EOD Technology Division at the Stump Neck Annex in Indian Head, Maryland, and its subsequent reorganization under then-NSWC Indian Head, the newly merged organization had seven separate bargaining units, each reinforcing different policies and practices. The different sets of rules for each bargaining unit made difficult to manage.
The command, with the backing of its union partners, filed a petition with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) to consolidate the seven separate bargaining units into one bargaining unit to become more efficient and effective as a command.
“The signatures on the master agreement are promises made by both parties and a document worth defending,” said AFGE, local 1923 Vice President Donnie Bicknell. “The joining of commands into one, and the joining of labor unions into one is a tough road to walk; but once achieved, that pathway to the future is open to all.”
In November 2015, FLRA designated AFGE, local 1923 as the exclusive representative of the newly created bargaining unit at Indian Head. After several years of negotiations, the new CBA became effective on July 23, 2019.
“This is a historic milestone for the command,” said NSWC IHEODTD Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Kraft. “The CBA ensures the command’s union employees are adequately represented while ensuring the warfighter and the joint services continue to receive the critical products they need with the professionalism they have come to expect from our command.”
NSWC IHEODTD – a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command and part of the Navy's Science and Engineering Establishment – is the leader in ordnance, energetics, and EOD solutions. The Division focuses on energetics research, development, testing, evaluation, in-service support, and disposal; and provides warfighters solutions to detect, locate, access, identify, render safe, recover, exploit, and dispose of explosive ordnance threats.