The National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO, is recognized as the exclusive representative of all permanent full-time Food Inspectors, Food Technologists, Import Inspectors, and Consumer Safety Inspectors in the Office of Field Operations of the Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, excluding Veterinarians, NonVeterinary Inspectors in supervisory positions, management officials, and employees described in Title 5.

This Agreement covers all employees pursuant to said recognition.  The parties further agree that should the Union request certification to include other occupations/positions, or units of employees of the Agency, such certification will not be opposed by the Agency, unless the Agency contends that the unit does not constitute an appropriate unit under Title 5 U.S.C., Section 7112.  Upon certification by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), subsequently represented employees or units also will be covered by this Agreement.