December 2006:

The success of NTEU Chapter 293 depends in large part upon union leaders’ ability to communicate and negotiate effectively with SEC management on a broad range of issues. Similarly, the success of the SEC in meeting its mission requirements depends greatly upon management’s ability to create an environment in which employees in every office and division of the agency remain highly dedicated and motivated. For these reasons, it is in everyone’s best interest to foster a real partnership between Chapter 293 and management, in which the union always has a seat at the table when important decisions are made which will affect employees’ work lives.

December 2006: Chapter 293 has launched a new websitehttp://www.secunion.org, featuring frequently updated news on the home page, as well as additional content and information. Older news and newsletters are archived in the “Newsletters” and “Headlines” sections. In addition, new “Membership” and “Resources” sections provide a wide variety of content and information of use to SEC employees. A new navigation bar with a search feature is available on the left of the site, making it easier to find information.

Please check out this great new resource at www.secunion.org.

December 2006: The success of Chapter 293 has always depended greatly upon the talent and commitment of its members and leaders. In this issue, we briefly spotlight the valued contributions of Chapter 293 Steward Sue Hannan.

December 2006: The Chapter 293 Legislative Committee deals with legislative issues and their application to SEC employees, coordinates lobbying efforts and educates Chapter 293 members about legislative activity. In the coming year, the committee will be working closely with NTEU’s Department of Legislation on issues of importance to SEC employees. Committee members are looking forward to working with the new Congress.

December 2006: One of the most important services that NTEU provides to SEC employees is its tireless Congressional lobbying work on our behalf – and in particular its legislative work to obtain better pay and benefits. This critical work is accomplished in conjunction with Chapter 293’s Legislative Committee, which has been headed from the beginning by Chairman Bill Friar at Headquarters. In this issue of Chapter 293 Works, we briefly outline how those efforts brought you Pay Parity.

December 2006: In November, the term agreement discussions between NTEU and the SEC continued in Washington D.C. These negotiations marked the seventh straight month of bargaining sessions regarding proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. To see a list of the important issues discussed during these sessions, please check the earlier report on those sessions.

December 2006: The administration has issued an alternative pay plan calling for an average 2.2 percent federal pay raise, but changing the formula for how the locality portion is distributed. This plan is opposed by NTEU President Colleen Kelley and all of her colleagues on the Federal Salary Council. It will give roughly half the federal workforce a raise of only 1.8 percent. Those employees are located in what is called the “Rest of the U.S.” locality area, and will bear the brunt of what is the smallest federal raise in 18 years.

December 2006: In early October, the Federal Services Impasses Panel (FSIP) issued an important order that will affect compensation issues for all SEC employees.

For many months prior to this order, NTEU had been bargaining with SEC management for a new compensation agreement without reaching agreement. Due to SEC management proposals that NTEU believed were in violation of federal labor law, the parties failed to reach agreement on a new compensation package.

December 2006: On November 7, Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman and Vice President Veronica Lewis met with NTEU national President Colleen Kelley and Vice President Frank Ferris, to discuss issues affecting bargaining unit employees at the SEC.

December 2006: In November, responding to issues raised by Chapter 293 leadership concerning the agency’s recent unilateral cutbacks to the Student Loan Repayment Program, the SEC reversed course and issued new notices to a number of affected employees, increasing their loan repayment disbursements. In many cases, these employees will now receive thousands of dollars in additional benefits that the agency previously had denied.