NFFE Local 858

White House Calls for Discretionary Spending Freeze; Impact on Federal Workers Unclear

Minja — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:33:29 +0000

Thursday, January 28, 2010

(National Federation of Federal Employees)

In last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama proposed a three-year discretionary spending freeze on federal funding that is not related to national security. The freeze is proposed to take effect in Fiscal Year 2011.

A number of agencies and social programs are not impacted by the proposal. The Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs are left out of the plan, as well as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and certain international programs.

For agencies not exempted from the budget freeze, it is too soon to tell what the impact for each will be. The White House has indicated that some agencies and programs will see budget increases, while others will see decreases, but the net impact for all the impacted agencies as a whole will be a Fiscal Year 2011 budget equal to that of Fiscal Year 2010.

It also remains unclear what the White House will propose for the FY11 annual pay adjustment. We will know more when the President passes his FY11 budget proposal to Congress on Monday. The White House has announced that salaries of senior White House officials and other top political appointees will be frozen in FY11, but the Administration has been made no mention of what will be offered for military and civilian federal employees.

As we move through the FY11 budget process, NFFE will continue to push for pay parity between military and civilian federal employees, and annual pay adjustments that are consistent with current law. Furthermore, NFFE will strongly defend against cuts to the numerous federal agencies that provide invaluable services to the American people.

NFFE Wins Election to Represent Forest Service Human Resource Management Employees

Minja — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:57:45 +0000

Thursday, January 21, 2010

(National Federation of Federal Employees)

Yesterday, employees in the U.S. Forest Service Human Resources Management (HRM) department in Albuquerque, NM voted in favor of representation by the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE). Nearly 65% of the bargaining unit turned out to vote yesterday, a very high turnout for a union election.

“Yesterday’s victory could not have happened without the hard work and cooperation of many of our union brothers and sisters,” said NFFE National Organizing Director Cassie Kerner. “I am so grateful to everyone who lent a hand on this campaign. Thanks to everyone’s perseverance, the employees of HRM will now have a much-needed voice in their workplace.”

Just one day after the victory at the polls, 26 HRM employees have already joined on as dues paying members. This victory was the result of a lengthy and hard-fought battle to secure representation for approximately 385 employees in the department.

The process began in the spring of 2008, when NFFE began collecting signatures from HRM employees who were interested in union representation. NFFE faced a number of hurdles over the next several months, but eventually was able to finalize a bargaining unit of approximately 385 people last November.

HRM employees in Albuquerque will now be covered by the Master Agreement negotiated by the NFFE Forest Service Council.

Thanks to National Business Representative Gary Johanson, Organizing Director Kerner, Forest Service Council President Ron Thatcher, National Vice President Jozef Drozdowski, IAM Organizer Terri Friend, and the members of NFFE Local 2197 for all of their hard work in this campaign.

National President Dougan Joins President Obama, Business Leaders, for Forum on Modernizing Government

Minja — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:39:48 +0000

Friday, January 15, 2010

(National Federation of Federal Employees)

Thursday, William R. Dougan, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees, attended the White House Forum on Modernizing Government, an afternoon event focused on improving the efficiency of government services. Participating were some of the greatest minds in the federal and private sectors, including federal labor leaders, high-level agency executives, and more than 50 of the country’s top CEO’s.

Held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the event began with a speech by President Obama, who stressed the need to embrace emerging technologies as a means for increasing government productivity while reducing costs. The President urged participants to discuss practices that have worked well for their organizations.

“I want us to ask ourselves every day, how are we using technology to make a real difference in people’s lives,” said President Obama. “Improving the technology our government uses isn’t about having the fanciest bells and whistles on our websites – it’s about how we use the American people’s hard-earned tax dollars to make government work better for them.”

Participating in a workgroup designed to review customer service, National President Dougan worked alongside CEO’s of major corporations such as Angie’s List, Rosetta Stone, and Kelly Services. During the group exercise, Dougan emphasized the importance of agency workers who actually provide the services to the American people.

“Any conversation about improving the delivery of government services has to start with the employees who are actually doing the work,” said Dougan. “Robust and constructive labor-management relations are just as important as technology when it comes to delivering quality and efficient customer service.”

The event, lasting nearly four hours, was just the beginning of an ongoing dialogue the White House wishes maintain with federal and private sector leaders. In the coming weeks, months, and years, NFFE will continue to work with the White House and Industry on this task in a concerted effort make the federal workplace an example that every American can be proud of.

Labor-Management Council

Minja — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:41:37 +0000

In our constant endeavor to provide the best possible representation to the RMA-KC bargaining unit members, we have sent the following email to the Associate Deputy Administrator in Kansas City:

“We are very pleased about President Obama’s initiative to establish labor-management councils and build and develop cooperative relationship between Management and the Unions in the Federal Government. RMA is a relatively small agency with the potential to provide an example of how, through effectively engaging employees, Agencies can work more efficiently and improve the service they provide to American public. We look forward to establishing a labor-management council as directed by the Executive Order of December 9, 2009.

We believe our Agency is an ideal candidate for the pilot programs outlined in Section 4 of the Executive Order, and we hope that we can prove to be the leaders in this initiative of the President through participating in it.

Please let us know what steps the Agency is taking in order to comply with the Executive Order.”

We shall keep you posted on Agency’s reply and the progress of forming the Labor-Management Council.

Labor-Management Forums Executive Order

President Obama’s executive order creating labor/management forums

Minja — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:50:05 +0000

You may have noticed the new look of our Local’s bulletin board on the first floor, and the executive order posted on it. In case you wondered what it means, here is some of the response that NFFE released:
“We are very pleased to see the Obama Administration take meaningful strides to engage the federal workforce,” said William R. Dougan, national president of the National Federation of Federal Employees. “Federal employees care deeply about the service they provide to the American people, but for almost a decade they have lacked an avenue to contribute ways to make the agencies they work for more efficient and effective. Going forward, federal workers will have the ability to contribute their ideas, and the American people will benefit because of it.”

What does it mean to you? It means that now, through your Union you can have a voice in all your workplace matters before the Management implements changes that affect you as a federal employee and as a taxpayer. The last time we had a chance for this kind of involvement in our workplace, after years of failed attempts the Union negotiated a 4/10 compressed schedule.

Remember, the management is not there because you chose them to lead you. You now have a chance to be the leader in your workplace. Take advantage of it by joining the Union and becoming an active member.

Labor-Management Forums Executive Order

Fitness Program

David — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:25:02 +0000

After meeting with the Agency, we have agreed to a pilot fitness program.

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.

No related posts.

With Defense Bill Passed, FERS Employees to Receive Retirement Credit for Unused Sick Leave

Minja — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:43:46 +0000

Earlier this week, President Obama signed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. While a full repeal of the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) dominated headlines, one largely underreported aspect of the bill – and arguably one of the most important for federal employees throughout the civil service – was a provision extending credit for accrued sick leave to federal workers enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS).

Under the new law, FERS employees will receive a boost to their retirement annuity based on the amount of sick leave they have saved over the course of their federal careers. Like their counterparts in the Civil Service Retirement System, covered employees will have their accrued leave factored in their annuity calculation upon retirement.

Here’s how it works. Once an employee becomes eligible to retire, their accrued sick leave will be credited toward his/her years and months of service. For example, before the benefit was signed into law, if a federal employee worked for the federal government for 30 years, earning a high three of $70,000 and garnering 6 months of sick leave, his/her retirement annuity would be 1.0% x 30 x 70,000, or $21,000 per year.

With this new benefit included, the same employee would have their annuity calculated 1.0% x 30.5 x 70,000 or $21,350 for the year. That’s an extra $29.17 cents in his/her pocket every month upon retirement.

There is a catch, however, but only in the short term. Though the sick leave benefit will go into effect immediately, it will not do so in its fullest capacity. There will be a four-year phase in period during which retiring FERS employees will receive only half credit for their unused sick leave. Federal employees can expect to retire with the full benefit on or after January 1, 2014.

“We are very pleased that FERS employees will finally be given credit for their unused sick time,” said NFFE Legislative Director Randy Erwin. “Establishing this good government benefit has been a top priority for NFFE. Now our retirees are going to have a little more money in their pocket because they were dutiful in their service and rarely used sick time. They earned that benefit, and now they will get something for it.”

Prospects for higher federal raise remain murky

Sarah — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:37:31 +0000

October 26, 2009
By Alex M. Parker

With work wrapped up on the 2010 Defense authorization bill, federal workforce representatives are focusing on what could be the next big fight on Capitol Hill — the civilian pay raise.

The House passed an appropriations bill in July that would give civilian employees a raise of 2 percent — a figure President Obama has supported. The Senate has yet to take up its version of the bill, which includes a 2.9 percent hike. With no vote scheduled on the Senate version, some labor groups are wondering how the issue will be resolved.

Those pushing for a bigger pay hike are hopeful that the 3.4 percent raise for military service members, included in the final version of the Defense authorization bill, will help their chances. The bill passed both chambers and now awaits Obama’s signature. But many consider pay parity among military and civilian workers unlikely.

Full Story

NSPS Officially Repealed as President Obama Signs Defense Bill

Sarah — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:05:08 +0000

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Today, President Obama signed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act. Included in the bill was a provision to repeal the controversial National Security Personnel System (NSPS). The bill also contained several small provisions impacting retirement benefits for the federal workforce.

The NSPS provisions in the bill dictate a repeal of the system, and a conversion of the over 200,000 covered employees back into existing pay systems by January 1, 2012. NSPS workers will be guaranteed the full annual GS pay adjustment over the transitional period.

Also included in the Defense Bill are provisions offering employees enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) credit for their unused sick leave upon retirement, and extending locality pay to workers stationed outside of the mainland United States – both critical NFFE priorities.

Full Story

Senate passes bill to kill NSPS, cut sole-souree contracts

Sarah — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:55:03 +0000

Oct 23, 2009

The Senate has passed a bill that would end the National Security Personnel System.(NSPS) and make it more difficult to award sole-source contracts. The measure would authorize spending $550.2 billion on Defense Department programs in fiscal 2010.

On Oct. 22, the Senate approved the fiscal 2010 National Defense Authorization Act’s conference report by a vote of 68 to 29 after the House passed the bill Oct. 8. The legislation now goes to the White House for President Barack Obama’s signature. The conference report is a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the same bill.

The report contains an important provision to end the NSPS, a pay-for-performance compensation system for federal employees. The National Treasury Employees Union and others say NSPS curtails employee rights in the workplace, including the right to collective bargaining.

Full Report