NTEU is supporting legislation that would give federal employees a 5.3 percent pay raise in January. The measure was introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly (Va.) with 32 original cosponsors. Titled the FAIR Act (Federal Adjustment of Income Rates), the bill calls for a 3.9 percent across the board raise, plus a 1.4 percent adjustment for locality pay.
The administration proposed a 1.6 percent pay raise in its budget proposal but NTEU believes that adjustment is too low. Federal employees are trailing their private-sector counterparts after three years of no raises, and three years of miniscule... Read more ...
Union News Archive
03/02/2016
On March 1st, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform considered and approved multiple federal workforce bills, while separately the House of Representatives passed a federal hiring bill on the floor, clearing the measure for the President’s signature.
The committee began by considering a bill to change agencies’ use of administrative leave for the purposes of conducting investigations of employees in the areas of misconduct and performance. Earlier in January, Chairman Jason Chaffetz (UT) introduced H.R. 4359, a bill that would only provide paid administrative leave for up... Read more ...
The committee began by considering a bill to change agencies’ use of administrative leave for the purposes of conducting investigations of employees in the areas of misconduct and performance. Earlier in January, Chairman Jason Chaffetz (UT) introduced H.R. 4359, a bill that would only provide paid administrative leave for up... Read more ...
02/03/2016
President Obama’s budget recommendation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, which is to be formally unveiled on Tuesday, February 9, is now expected to include an average 1.6% pay raise for both federal civilian and military personnel. This proposed 1.6% pay adjustment for General Schedule federal employees would be effective January 2017.
As your Exclusive Representative, we view the amount of the Administration’s total proposed average raise — 1.6 percent — as far too low, particularly given the recent history on federal employee pay increases and the continued economic recovery underway which has... Read more ...
As your Exclusive Representative, we view the amount of the Administration’s total proposed average raise — 1.6 percent — as far too low, particularly given the recent history on federal employee pay increases and the continued economic recovery underway which has... Read more ...
01/13/2016
On January 12, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform considered and approved several federal workforce bills, including a bill opposed by NTEU to substantially extend probationary periods for new employees.
One of the key measures considered was H.R. 3023, a bill introduced by Rep. Ken Buck (CO) that would extend the current one year probationary period to two years for new employees hired into the competitive service. Additionally, this legislation would have the two year probationary period begin only after any required training for the position, meaning that employees... Read more ...
One of the key measures considered was H.R. 3023, a bill introduced by Rep. Ken Buck (CO) that would extend the current one year probationary period to two years for new employees hired into the competitive service. Additionally, this legislation would have the two year probationary period begin only after any required training for the position, meaning that employees... Read more ...
12/17/2015
Late last week, the SEC’s Office of Human Resources (OHR) informed the union that the agency had decided not to fund the Backup Child and Elder Care Program at the level needed to continue to provide the amount of care promised to employees. As a consequence, since at least December 9th, all SEC employees have been turned away with respect to any backup care that they have requested during the month of December. The union has filed a national grievance for failure to negotiate a change to the program before implementing that change.
The Backup Child and Elder Care Program is an important... Read more ...
The Backup Child and Elder Care Program is an important... Read more ...
11/02/2015
The Union was required to file a national grievance today to challenge the SEC's breach of its prior agreement to allow first-year SEC employees to participate in the Student Loan Repayment Program (SLRP).
In June 2014, the SEC and the Union entered into a memorandum of understanding in connection with certain changes in the SLRP. Pursuant to that agreement, the SEC agreed to:
waive for all bargaining unit employees the requirement contained within Article 25, Section 5, that ‘an employee must have completed one year of service with the Employer’ to participate in the SLRP (the ‘1-Year... Read more ...
In June 2014, the SEC and the Union entered into a memorandum of understanding in connection with certain changes in the SLRP. Pursuant to that agreement, the SEC agreed to:
waive for all bargaining unit employees the requirement contained within Article 25, Section 5, that ‘an employee must have completed one year of service with the Employer’ to participate in the SLRP (the ‘1-Year... Read more ...
10/29/2015
Today, the SEC finally announced that, pursuant to its contractual agreements with the Union, it is creating new accounts to provide an additional 3% supplemental retirement match to all employees at the SEC. Many newer SEC employees are not aware of the fact that the Union had to fight for over a decade to establish these supplemental retirement accounts, which have long been enjoyed by federal employees at other financial regulatory agencies. Today is a good day to review the history of this program at the SEC.
Thirteen years ago, in 2002, the National Treasury Employees Union’s Legislative... Read more ...
Thirteen years ago, in 2002, the National Treasury Employees Union’s Legislative... Read more ...
10/27/2015
The administration and House and Senate Leaders have crafted a deal to increase sequester spending levels for both domestic and defense spending for FY 2016 and 2017. The legislation, which is expected to be acted on by the House and Senate in the next few days, would also raise the debt ceiling until March 2017. If passed, the bill would avoid a debt ceiling default on November 3rd that could have prevented federal salaries from being paid.
The bill would increase domestic and defense spending caps by $25 billion each in 2016 and $15 billion each in 2017. Separate FY 2016 spending... Read more ...
The bill would increase domestic and defense spending caps by $25 billion each in 2016 and $15 billion each in 2017. Separate FY 2016 spending... Read more ...
09/23/2015
Today, NTEU received updated information from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regarding the recent background investigations breach that affects approximately 21.5 million individuals. First announced in early June, this enormous breach involves the theft of Standard Forms 85, 85P, and 86 that are filled out by federal job applicants, employees and contractors, as well as other background materials and records, including investigative notes.
Until today, OPM had stated that 1.1 million of the 21.5 million compromised individuals whose background records were stolen also had had... Read more ...
Until today, OPM had stated that 1.1 million of the 21.5 million compromised individuals whose background records were stolen also had had... Read more ...
09/16/2015
A group of senators led by Senator Ben Cardin (MD), has introduced S. 2035, a bill for both excepted and furloughed federal employees in the event of a possible government shutdown. While NTEU continues to urge Congress to provide agencies with Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 funds before the end of FY 2015 on Thursday, October 1st, we have also been working with members of Congress to address pay and leave issues for both excepted and furloughed employees should a shutdown actually occur on October 1st. As in past government shutdowns, some employees will be deemed “excepted” by their agencies and... Read more ...
09/16/2015
Yesterday, Sen. Brian Schatz (HI) and Sen. Barbara Mikulski (MD) introduced legislation to provide six weeks of paid leave for federal workser for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. In introducing the legislation, which is supported by NTEU, the Senators pointed out that the U.S. is the only industrial nation in the world without paid parental leave. Although the Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees to take 12 weeks of unpaid leave for medical and family issues, many working families cannot afford to go without a paycheck. Sen. Schatz’s legislation would ease the pressure... Read more ...
09/03/2015
Tuesday, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of Defense (DOD) announced the awarding of the contract to provide identity theft protection and credit monitoring to the 21.5 million individuals affected by the OPM background investigations breach. First announced on June 10, this massive breach involves the theft of Standard Forms 85, 85P, and 86 that are filled out by federal job applicants, employees, members of the military, and contractors, as well as other background materials and records.
The $133 million contract was awarded to ID Experts (Identity Theft Guard... Read more ...
The $133 million contract was awarded to ID Experts (Identity Theft Guard... Read more ...
08/31/2015
Last week President Obama sent Congressional leaders a formal letter transmitting an alternative pay plan for the calendar year 2016 pay raise for federal workers, providing for an average pay raise of 1.3% (SEC employees receive the annual pay raise in January pursuant to the Compensation Agreement negotiated by NTEU in 2014).
Under current law, absent congressional action to establish a pay raise, the annual, across-the-board pay raise for most pay systems is set automatically using a formula tied to the Department of Labor’s Employment Cost Index (ECI), which measures the rise in private-... Read more ...
Under current law, absent congressional action to establish a pay raise, the annual, across-the-board pay raise for most pay systems is set automatically using a formula tied to the Department of Labor’s Employment Cost Index (ECI), which measures the rise in private-... Read more ...
08/17/2015
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced select Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) premium rate changes starting January 1, 2016. Additionally, OPM will be holding a FEGLI Open Season from September 1-30, 2016.
Authorized by law, FEGLI is a life insurance program for federal and postal employees and retirees. OPM is charged with administering the program and setting premiums, and contracts with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Metlife) to provide the insurance coverage. In Fiscal Year 2013, over 75,000 death and dismemberment claims were paid,... Read more ...
Authorized by law, FEGLI is a life insurance program for federal and postal employees and retirees. OPM is charged with administering the program and setting premiums, and contracts with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Metlife) to provide the insurance coverage. In Fiscal Year 2013, over 75,000 death and dismemberment claims were paid,... Read more ...
08/06/2015
This week, NTEU received a briefing from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on the recent background investigations breach affecting approximately 21.5 million individuals. First announced on June 10, this massive breach involves the theft of Standard Forms 85, 85P and 86 that are filled out by federal job applicants, employees and contractors, as well as other background materials and records, including investigative notes.
In this week’s briefing, OPM outlined the inter-agency contracting task force that is responsible for the coming notifications for affected individuals, that... Read more ...
In this week’s briefing, OPM outlined the inter-agency contracting task force that is responsible for the coming notifications for affected individuals, that... Read more ...
07/18/2015
Given the surge of information and developments over the last week, below is a comprehensive update regarding all of NTEU’s activities to date in the wake of the June Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announcements of massive personnel and investigation breaches.
Last Friday, OPM Director Katherine Archuleta resigned. Beth Cobert is now OPM Acting Director; until last week, she was serving as Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). NTEU National President Colleen M. Kelley knows and has worked with Beth Cobert in her OMB role as co-chair of the National... Read more ...
Last Friday, OPM Director Katherine Archuleta resigned. Beth Cobert is now OPM Acting Director; until last week, she was serving as Deputy Director for Management at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). NTEU National President Colleen M. Kelley knows and has worked with Beth Cobert in her OMB role as co-chair of the National... Read more ...
07/13/2015
NTEU-supported legislation has been introduced in the Senate and will soon be introduced in the House of Representatives to provide lifetime coverage to individuals affected in the recently announced OPM personnel records and background investigation breaches. Senator Ben Cardin (MD), joined by Senators Mikulski (MD), Kaine (VA) and Warner (VA), have introduced S. 1746, the Recover Act, Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response Act of 2015. Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) is expected to soon introduce similar legislation in the House.
The... Read more ...
The... Read more ...
07/13/2015
OHR recently briefed the union on the SEC's progress towards setting up supplemental retirement match accounts pursuant to the compensation agreement with the union. The agency is close to signing a contract with a vendor, and currently expects to have the accounts set up by September 30, the end of Fiscal Year 2015. The accounts will be cash accounts, but the SEC has now agreed to provide a "sweep" feature which will allow employees to shift the funds on a period basis into their TSP accounts, where they will have investment options. Pursuant to IRS rules, there is a waiting period before... Read more ...
07/13/2015
Fifteen years ago, SEC employees voted overwhelmingly in favor of representation by NTEU, resulting in the creation of NTEU Chapter 293, your exclusive representative for workplace issues. As we celebrate this important anniversary of our organization, it is a great time to look back on where we came from.
Sixteen years ago, in June 1999, during the early stages of NTEU’s organizing drive at the SEC, then Chairman Arthur Levitt held a series of meetings with various offices and divisions as part of his ongoing efforts to stem the drive for employee representation. Prior to the Chairman’s... Read more ...
Sixteen years ago, in June 1999, during the early stages of NTEU’s organizing drive at the SEC, then Chairman Arthur Levitt held a series of meetings with various offices and divisions as part of his ongoing efforts to stem the drive for employee representation. Prior to the Chairman’s... Read more ...
07/13/2015
As the Senate prepares to consider a highway funding bill, we have learned that one of funding mechanisms under consideration to offset the costs of the highway bill is to lower the rate of return on the G Fund. The G Fund rate of return uses a formula identical to one used by Social Security to fund its disability program. Some Members of Congress are interested in lowering the rate of return on the G Fund and using those savings to fund other programs.
NTEU strongly opposes such a move. Lowering the rate would, even in the words of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, render the... Read more ...
NTEU strongly opposes such a move. Lowering the rate would, even in the words of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, render the... Read more ...
07/09/2015
Today NTEU received a briefing from OMB and OPM on the recent data breaches. The call provided some new information on the second data breach that affected background investigation information. While we were not told the number of people affected by the second breach, we have since learned the number is 21.5 million. We were told that sensitive information was stolen from forms SF 85’s and SF 86’s filled out by federal job applicants, employees and contractors. Social Security Numbers were stolen for the individual, as well as in some cases, the spouse or partner. Individuals who filled out... Read more ...
07/08/2015
NTEU has filed a lawsuit against OPM in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in connection with last month’s sweeping data breaches, which exposed the personal information of millions of federal employees. In addition to basic information typically found in personnel files, background investigation materials for current, former, and prospective federal employees were also compromised. Those materials include inherently private information provided by individuals who put their trust in OPM to keep that information confidential.
As its own Inspector General has made... Read more ...
As its own Inspector General has made... Read more ...
04/14/2015
As you know, the House and Senate passed budget resolutions that contain substantial cuts to federal employee benefits. When Congress returns from its recess, each chamber will appoint conferees to bargain on a final budget resolution. The next budget action will be expected on or soon after April 15, 2015. NTEU wants to be sure that a final budget resolution contains none of the harmful cuts contained in the current House and Senate versions.
The House version:
Cuts $278 billion from the federal workforce over 10 years;
Cuts the federal workforce by 10%;
Requires federal employees to pay 6... Read more ...
The House version:
Cuts $278 billion from the federal workforce over 10 years;
Cuts the federal workforce by 10%;
Requires federal employees to pay 6... Read more ...
02/11/2015
2/11/15: Anthem Health Insurance announced last week that it had been a victim of a cyber-attack, resulting in unauthorized access to Anthem plans’ IT systems. According to Anthem, while not all nation-wide Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) enrollees have been impacted, Blue Cross Blue Shield enrollees whose plans—such as Blue Card—have utilized the Anthem IT systems for back-end claims processing may also be impacted. Anthem Health Insurance, part of the BCBS system, offers health plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).
Personally-identifiable information (PII),... Read more ...
Personally-identifiable information (PII),... Read more ...
02/11/2015
2/11/15: President Obama’s budget recommendation for Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 includes a 1.3% across-the-board pay raise for both federal civilian and military personnel. The proposed 1.3% pay adjustment would be effective January 2016. Purauant to the compensation agreement between the SEC and NTEU, SEC employees would receive this raise if it goes into effect.
While the level of the proposed average raise — 1.3 percent — is low, NTEU is pleased that the White House has included an overall pay raise in its budget proposal to Congress. However, NTEU is strongly advocating legislation that would... Read more ...
While the level of the proposed average raise — 1.3 percent — is low, NTEU is pleased that the White House has included an overall pay raise in its budget proposal to Congress. However, NTEU is strongly advocating legislation that would... Read more ...