8/1/08: Last night the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1108 (326 yeas – 102 nays), a bill to grant the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products. With NTEU’s support, the bill included an Oversight Committee amendment providing credit to federal employees covered under the FERS system to count unused sick leave towards their retirement pension calculation. Under the bipartisan agreement, FERS-covered employees will receive credit for 75 percent of their unused sick leave for three years after the bill becomes law.

7/30/08: NTEU National President Colleen Kelley today offered her strong support for a legislative proposal which would be a major step forward in fairness for a substantial number of federal workers over the manner in which unused sick leave is treated for pension purposes.

President Kelley said the provision in H.R. 1108 would permit employees covered under the newer Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to count accrued but unused sick leave toward their pensions.

7/30/08: With the August recess break nearly upon us, NTEU has had great success in including the 3.9 percent pay raise in major legislative vehicles moving forward in both Houses of Congress. This is one of the union's top legislative priorities for the year.

7/29/08: NTEU National President Colleen Kelley this week welcomed overdue action by the General Services Administration (GSA) to raise the mileage reimbursement rate to 58.5 cents per mile for federal employees using their personal vehicles on government business. At the same time, she expressed her clear disappointment that the increase is not retroactive to July 1, as NTEU had urged, and stated that the IRS rate should be even higher. GSA raised the rate effective Aug. 1.

Earlier, the Internal Revenue Service increased the rate allowable as a business deduction for business travel to 58.5 cents per mile, effective July 1. At that time, Kelley immediately called on GSA to follow the IRS in raising the rate for federal workers, and to make the increase effective on the same date as the IRS. GSA sets the rate for federal employees, and cannot exceed that established by the IRS.

7/10/08: The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a fiscal 2009 funding bill that would provide federal civilian employees with a 3.9 percent pay raise — a full percentage point higher than that proposed by the White House, and an amount in step with a 2009 military pay raise moving through Congress. The committee also approved fiscal 2009 funding of $938 million for the Securities and Exchange Commission -- $25 million more than the White House proposal.

7/8/08: Today’s approval by a key Senate subcommittee of a 3.9 percent pay raise in 2009 for federal civilian employees is another welcome step forward in securing a fair and reasonable increase that also will aid federal agency recruitment and retention efforts. This action by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government is a reflection of the understanding of its members of the continuing contributions to our nation of the federal workforce.

7/1/08: Last Thursday, just before the Congress adjourned for its Independence Day Recess, it passed important legislation that might help some federal employees avoid the current high gas prices while also promoting environmental stewardship.

6/23/08: Late last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation to provide federal employees with four weeks of paid parental leave. The bill, introduced by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) and strongly supported by NTEU, would convert to paid leave four of the 12 weeks of unpaid leave currently available to federal employees under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The vote was 278 to 146.

6/17/08: The House Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee today approved a 3.9% pay raise for federal civilian employees in 2009. This is a full 1 percent higher than the administration's proposed increase of 2.9%. NTEU has been working hard for the 3.9% increase.