June 2007: Over the past several months, Chapter 293 has continued its work to improve communications with SEC employees, including by expanding upon and improving its website, www.secunion.org. Since the launch of the new website a few months ago, visits by SEC employees have grown steadily, and it now regularly receives thousands of visits each month.

June 2007: NTEU includes in its membership a large number of talented, motivated, hard working SEC employees. In this issue, we focus our attention on Shirlie Maultsby, a Chapter 293 member who works at Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

June 2007: The SEC needs a Career Enhancement Program. “Career Enhancement” refers to a form of “upward mobility” program designed to afford the opportunity to SEC employees to expand upon their career and promotional potential through a systematic, planned approach to training and career progression. Such a program would benefit everyone concerned. Lower-graded employees would receive the opportunity to advance and realize their full potential. Management officials would be enabled to more fully utilize the talents and capabilities of their employees.

June 2007: In May, Chapter President Greg Gilman, Vice President Veronica Lewis and Chief Steward Katie Nix met with Chapter 293's Advancement Committee. The committee, which is chaired by Lisa Ivory (Enforcement), is comprised of a number of employees who work in various support positions at the agency. They meet regularly to discuss issues that affect SEC support staff, including relations with management, training and education opportunities, issues of racial discrimination at the agency, and support staff rights and benefits.

June 2007: Chapter 293 leaders have continued to provide opportunities for SEC employees to learn about NTEU member benefits at various seminars held at various SEC offices. Several such events are coming up soon. On Wednesday, June 27, Liberty Mutual representatives will be at the HQ Auditorium from 12-1 PM to discuss auto, homeowner and life insurance benefits for NTEU members.

June 2007: During April, a number of Chapter 293 stewards traveled to Miami, Florida to attend NTEU’s annual spring training session.

June 2007: In recent weeks, Chapter 293 leadership has grown stronger through the addition of the following new stewards: Danny Gay (OFM); Lisa Ivory (Enforcement); Fred Haberfeld (NYRO); Cory Kirchert (Enforcement); Betty Perry (OAS); Azam Riaz (NYRO); Belinda Rodriguez (NYRO); Dean Suehiro (Corporation Finance); John Sweeney (OCIE); and Luis Toledo (OIT).

June 2007: The Labor-Management Relations Committee (LMRC) is scheduled to meet on June 26. The LMRC is a joint labor-management committee that was established under CBA Article 41 to exchange information and discuss matters of concern or interest to either party in the broad area of personnel policy or practices. The LMRC currently meets semi-annually. However, it will be meeting quarterly in the future.

June 2007: In April, NTEU Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman and Vice President Veronica Lewis, joined by NTEU Field Representative and Counsel Tim Welsh, made representational visits to both the Atlanta Regional Office (ARO) and the Miami Regional Office (MIRO).

At both offices, Gilman made a luncheon presentation to a large group of employees regarding various issues, including the current status of the CBA negotiations, compensation issues, and issues related to performance appraisal and merit pay. Gilman and Lewis also responded to a number of questions from employees.

June 2007: Over the past few months, Chapter 293's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiating team has continued to work hard towards the goal of obtaining a new agreement with the SEC. During the multi-day negotiating sessions that have taken place at Headquarters in Washington each month this year, the progress has been slow but steady.