Automated Time Attendance and Production System (ATAAPS)

                                                                   7 Feb 2013

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT (MOA)

On

Automated Time Attendance and Production System (ATAAPS)

1.  The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Council 214 and the Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), hereafter referred to as the Union and Management, enter into this MOA regarding the above named system as it applies to bargaining unit employees (BUEs) covered by the Master Labor Agreement (MLA) between the Parties. 

2.  ATAAPS is a web-based application that provides online entry, update, concurrence and certification of time and attendance data for civilian employees of various DoD agencies.  It directly interfaces with the Defense Civilian Pay System (DCPS).  AF has chosen ATAAPS to replace all manual timekeeping practices.  Under this agreement, ATAAPS will be implemented only for those employees not currently using automated T&A systems, such as JOCAS and DMAPS.  Any plans to expand ATAAPS to replace existing automated T&A systems will be negotiated separately.  This MOA authorizes the implementation of ATAAPS. 

3.  Implementation activities will begin approximately 26 November 2012.  The implementation process incorporates training for all users of ATAAPS.  AFMC “go-live” is estimated to begin not earlier than 19 May 2013.

4.  ATAAPS users fall into four categories: employees, timekeepers, certifiers, and Super Users.  Employees will submit their time once each pay period.  Timekeepers check the submission and may perform any necessary corrections.  Certifiers are normally non-BUE representatives of management who review and approve the submissions.  Super Users are designated individuals at each installation with full system privileges. 

5.  ATAAPS has the capability to produce an OPM Form 71 meeting regulatory guidance prescribed in AFI 36-815.  This functionality allows employees to initiate and send leave request notifications to their certifier for action.  When configured for an organization, the certifier receives an email notifying them of each new request.  Upon approval or disapproval, the employee will receive an email notification.  Use of this functionality will be done in compliance with Article 23, Annual Leave, and Article 24, Sick Leave, of the MLA.  Employees may utilize the existing process for requesting leave, if access to a computer is not feasible.

6.  Management agrees that information pertaining to a specific individual will be protected in accordance with the Privacy Act.  Information collected in ATAAPS will be used by management for official purposes only and access to individual timesheets will be limited to authorized management officials with a need to know.   

7.  To minimize input workload, employee input screens will be loaded with default values indicating a typical full pay period of work.  For any given workday, the employee will document any deviations from a standard day of work.  The system will provide time coding options to cover all reportable categories (e.g. leave, overtime, comp time, fitness hours, credit hours, etc.), including union official time.  The employee is responsible for recording time as accurately as possible.

8.  ATAAPS activity based (job) costing capabilities will not be implemented until negotiated separately.  “Job Order” and “Opt Code” fields will be pre-populated on an individual employee’s timesheet.

9.  Prior to “go live” activation of the system, Management will provide all affected employees sufficient training to be confident in their ability to log onto the system, and accurately enter, review, and adjust their pay period submissions.  Upon request, at any time after system activation, employees will be provided with a reasonable amount of personal assistance by timekeepers. 

10.  Employees will be provided access to a private work station with a suitable computer and a printer.  Access includes a reasonable amount of time during an employee’s working hours to make ATAAPS bi-weekly submissions and for incidental ATAAPS updates or inquiries. 

11.  Information collected in ATAAPS will not be used for individual performance management or disciplinary purposes.  Management recognizes that employees may make unintentional errors in documenting their time and attendance data.  When accuracy problems arise, Management will respond by providing the employee with additional training.  This does not preclude discipline for deliberate, knowledgeable, or willful falsification.  Deliberate or willful falsification of time and attendance data will be addressed in accordance with MLA.

12.  Any challenges to the accuracy of an employee’s submission will be timely raised.  If the need for correcting the timesheet is discovered within three pay periods, adjustments will be made in ATAAPS with any necessary supporting documentation.  Any adjustments beyond three pay periods will require supporting documentation and manual input in DCPS. 

13.  It is recognized that circumstances, such as an employee’s extended absence, may require the timekeeper to make submissions on behalf of the employee or to correct the employee’s submission and process it without prior confirmation.  Such actions will be reported back to the employee for confirmation as soon as possible. 

14.  All remedies available under the MLA or 5 U.S.C. Chapter 71 are available to the parties if either party believes the other has failed to comply with any of the requirements of this MOA and concerns cannot be cooperatively resolved.

FOR THE UNION                                         FOR MANAGEMENT

____/signed/__________________              ___/signed/___________________

TROY TINGEY                                             MARY E. MILLER

President, Council 214                                    HQ AFMC/FMP

____/signed/__________________              ____/signed/__________________

TOM ROBINSON                                           KEISHA E. BARLOW

Executive Assistant, Council 214                   HQ AFMC/A1KL