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(a) The Office of the Collective Bargaining is established within the Office of the Governor, but shall function under the Division of Personnel for budgetary purposes only. The Office shall be supervised by a Chief Negotiator at the direction of the Governor. The Chief Negotiator shall be experienced in labor relations, and shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Legislature. The Chief Negotiator shall serve at the will of the Governor.
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(b) The Office of Collective Bargaining shall have the following powers and duties:
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(1) exclusively represent the executive branch of government and its departments and divisions and negotiate on its behalf in all collective bargaining proceedings;
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(2) assist the Governor in formulating labor policies for collective bargaining and plan strategies for such bargaining;
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(3) coordinate the government’s position in all mediation and arbitration cases and labor disputes;
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(4) conduct systematic studies of collective bargaining agreements for the purpose of contract negotiations;
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(5) prepare and submit an annual report, and such other reports as may be requested, to the Governor and to the Legislature on the effects of this chapter on the annual budget and personnel matters.
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(c) The Office of Collective Bargaining shall not represent the independent instrumentalities of the Government of the Virgin Islands, such as the Virgin Islands Port Authority, the University of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, the Economic Development Bank or the Virgin Islands Housing Authority in collective bargaining negotiations, unless requested by the instrumentality to do so.
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(d) No commissioner, department head, or other employee similarly situated shall represent to an exclusive representative of a bargaining unit that he or she may negotiate an agreement on behalf of the public employer independent of the Office of Collective Bargaining.
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(e) A copy of each collective bargaining agreement and amendments thereto reached under the aegis of the Office of the Public Employee Labor Relations Board shall be filed in the Office of Collective Bargaining, maintained on each island, and shall be available for public inspection or copying.