5/22/11:  During NTEU's steward training conference last week, several Chapter 293 leaders were recognized for their important work on national programs during this past year. Among the recipients of Leadership Awards were Dan Barry, James Fay, Lawrence Pisto and Paul Prata from the Boston Regional Office.

Dan Barry was recognized for serving as a co-chair of Chapter 293's Legislative Committee. In that capacity, he traveled to DC this year for NTEU's 2011 Legislative Conference, where he helped to coordinate and deliver a strong message on the Hill in support of the SEC's critical mission as well as implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act. As you know, despite the tough climate in which many agencies' budgets were reduced, the SEC received an increase of $74 million over FY 2010's budget.

James Fay is serving as one of five members of the SEC Labor Management Forum, which was formed as a result of President Obama's Executive Order last year on labor-management partnership. As a Forum member, James meets regularly with senior management in Washington to raise and address national labor-management issues at the SEC. James also has been a key representative and coordinator of Chapter 293's Performance Management Team, dealing with issues and problems related to the new performance management program.

Lawrence Pisto is one of five members of Chapter 293's national Collective Bargaining Team. That team is currently negotiating with management over our basic Union contract at the SEC, which addresses a wide range of employee programs and rights, including telework and alternative work schedules. He is also a member of a national Union committee formed to meet with management to address issues raised by the recent Boston Consulting Group report about the SEC.

Paul Prata has been working for over a year on Chapter 293's National OCIE Reassessment Team, which is regularly meeting with management to address employee issues related to the reorganization of OCIE.

 In addition to their local representational work at the BRO, Dan, James, Lawrence and Paul have been at the forefront of a number of extremely important national projects that have an impact upon SEC employees across the country. "The employees of the Boston Regional Office should be very proud to have among them such a talented group of individuals who are volunteering their time and energy to make a positive contribution to improving the agency," Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman recently said. "I know that I am very proud of my association and work with all of them."