The Union is taking the initiative to bring in their own certified personal trainer with which employees can then organize with to customize a training schedule.  RMA is sponsoring them for contractor badges so that the training can take place as convenient to both parties.  The time spent must still be on one’s own time (before/after work, lunch or leave) and costs will be out of pocket for now.  However, we are excited to at least provide some additional services to those interested. The rates are not finalized but we believe it will cost under $10 for a 30 minute session, which is very low compared to most personal trainers.  As mentioned before, personal trainer costs can be covered by FSA’s.  Please contact Minja if you are interested so we can start forming groups.

Of course, those who already use the gym (or want to start!) can continue to do so at their own convenience at no cost, just like it has been.

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1. This initiative is to add services and will not affect the current use policy for the gym. The gym will continue to be free and open to all employees no matter what comes of fitness classes.

2. Current gym users are quite friendly and several, both in person and in the survey results, have stated there are already small, informal groups that provide fitness knowledge and assistance for any that wish to come.

The survey results are below

2/3 of the respondents are not currently members at a gym or health club and of those that are members, only 1/2 currently take organized fitness classes!

Nearly 80% of respondents would like to see a fitness program organized in the building, however most would like a fully subsidized program, or simply like the initiative of creating a program and would not personally participate.

We were surprised at the response to the question about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) as it did not seem to register with most people. For information purposes, most gym memberships and fitness classes can be covered by these accounts. I would encourage everyone unaware about the program to read about it as it can save you a lot of money on all health care expenses.

There was a fairly even spread of the desired group size. Larger groups were slightly more preferred, but the differences were negligible.

Resistance training received the highest number of votes as the exercise of choice. A lot of employees would like to have cycling, aerobic, and Yoga classes available as well.  I misread the bargaining unit when writing this survey and failed to offer wheel chair racing as a choice, however, it received some support as a write in option.

We have wonderful facilities in the building, I am sure that employees currently using them enjoy the exclusive feel about it, but it would be nice to see it utilized by more employees, especially the room without the machines, which hardly, if ever gets used.
Again thanks to all of you who responded. Your input and thoughts, including positive criticism are necessary for us to be able to do our job as your representatives.

Related posts:

1. Fitness Survey
2. Fitness Program
3. Federal Employees Health Benefits Threatened

Click Here to take survey

If you have any questions or comments, please email Chief Steward David Zanoni

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1. New Chief Steward
2. Survey Results
3. Fitness Program

As for the construction, NFFE 858 and RMA have agreed to promote telework above normal allowances in order to avoid the disturbances.  I believe everyone has already seen emails and/or had meetings with supervisors over the guidelines, but as a general rule, if you are losing productivity due to construction, you can probably telework extra.  Ask your manager first and they will probably allow it within reason, however if you feel it is disallowed unjustly, find a Union rep and we can make sure the proper rules are followed.

As for actually moving, your manager should inform you of specific time-lines of when and where you should go.  The building staff is trying to provide rolling bins to employees to ease the transfer of personal files and belongings, yet not all of them have arrived, so some employees may need to use cardboard boxes in the meantime.  I would suggest those of you who have accumulated large amounts of ‘stuff’ to begin packing sooner rather than later.  If anyone is physically unable to move their belongings from cube to cube, the building does have labor on staff to assist.  Let your manager know and they should be able to route the request.  There is no assisted labor for packing, however office peers probably can give a helping hand if asked, and I will be more the willing to assist if needed.

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It is with great sadness and regret that I confirm the passing of NFFEs beloved national president, Richard N. Brown, who was found unresponsive in his apartment in Arlington, VA yesterday afternoon.  To all who knew him, Rick was a strong leader, a dedicated trade unionist, and a friend.

As national president of NFFE, Rick steered the organization out of a tumultuous period in the 1990s, and into prosperity.  The union saddled with debt when he took office as national president, Rick orchestrated NFFEs affiliation with the Machinists Union (IAMAW), and reorganized internally to get the organizations books in the black, setting the course for renewed prosperity.  In recent years, NFFE was seeing the fruits of that prosperity.  The unions membership has been on the rise and the organization has been realizing success in the policy arena.

Rick was a trade unionist at heart.  He came from a union family and maintained membership in NFFE-IAM and the Laborers Union, the latter being a membership he maintained after leaving construction to become a machinist.  Rick was a strong advocate for federal employees.  Never one to back down, Rick was a strong presence in the fight against several federal workforce initiative aimed at contracting out federal government jobs and eliminating federal employees unions.  His most impressive work was done in opposition to NSPS.  Just last week, Rick gave impassioned testimony in opposition to NSPS before the Task Group of the Defense Business Board, a panel that is conducting a review of the personnel system.

On a personal note, Rick was a great friend.  He was fiercely loyal and supportive to those around him.  He was also tremendously fun to be around, always ready with a joke or an amusing story.  In his passing, we have lost a strong voice and champion for working men and women.  We will mourn his loss greatly.

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1. National President Dougan Joins President Obama, Business Leaders, for Forum on Modernizing Government
2. Senate passes bill to kill NSPS, cut sole-souree contracts
3. NSPS Officially Repealed as President Obama Signs Defense Bill

Kathy will still be very active with the Union and has been nominated (along with others pending a vote) to the NFFE Local 858 Board of Trustees. Moreover, we all hope she continues to blog with us as so many have expressed there enjoyment of her posts.

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1. New Officers
2. The Move
3. Fitness Survey

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This is not the first time an OIG report has reached out and caused an action against an employee. In 2004, OIG issued a report that found certain employees were remiss in performing their duties as Risk Management Specialists. An employee of the Research and Evaluation Division, currently the Actuarial and Product Design Division, was given a letter of reprimand as a result of the findings in this OIG report. The letter of reprimand was later rescinded, but only after a grievance was filed.

If an employee has a meeting with an OIG investigator, they have the right to ask for a Union representative. If the employee is denied the right to have a union representative present, they should contact the Union as soon as the meeting has ended. An employee should not sign anything at an OIG interview before having it reviewed by the Union or other representative of their choice.

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