Union News Archive
06/17/2020
As you may know, the union recently succeeded in getting the agency to increase the amount of annual leave that a bargaining unit employee can carry over from one leave year to the next from 240 hours to 360 hours. Consequently, fewer staffers have to worry about some of their annual leave disappearing at the end of the year because it exceeds the old carry-over limit of 240 hours. However, many employees are now reaching out to the union to say that, given the pandemic, they might not be taking travel vacations this year and might therefore end up with more annual leave at the end of the... Read more ...
12/13/2019
Yesterday afternoon, congressional leaders announced that they have reached a deal in principle on government funding for FY 2020, reducing the possibility of another shutdown just a week before the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires on December 20, 2019.
The agreement will be drafted into at least two minibus packages this weekend, with the House and Senate planning to hold floor votes next week. The House is expected to vote as early as Tuesday, followed by the Senate later in the week.
NTEU has pushed for many funding and policy priorities in the final spending deal, and we ... Read more ...
The agreement will be drafted into at least two minibus packages this weekend, with the House and Senate planning to hold floor votes next week. The House is expected to vote as early as Tuesday, followed by the Senate later in the week.
NTEU has pushed for many funding and policy priorities in the final spending deal, and we ... Read more ...
11/05/2019
NTEU is continuing its fight against President Trump’s unlawful Executive Orders on multiple fronts. The union is fighting agency efforts to impose the harmful terms of the Orders in new contracts, such as caps on official time and limits on grievance rights, and we are filing administrative challenges when those agencies persist.
In addition to our efforts at the bargaining table and our grievance procedures, we are supporting a new litigation effort brought by the National Association of Agriculture Employees. The federal appellate court in Washington, D.C. ruled against us. That court... Read more ...
In addition to our efforts at the bargaining table and our grievance procedures, we are supporting a new litigation effort brought by the National Association of Agriculture Employees. The federal appellate court in Washington, D.C. ruled against us. That court... Read more ...
08/27/2019
They are attorneys at the SEC by day, aspiring rock stars by night. And Thursday night, Sept. 12, their band, G.O.A.T. Rodeo, will be competing for the second time in Law Rocks – a battle of the bands for rock n’ rolling legal professionals. In 2018, the band was selected as the DC crowd favorite, and raised more than $15,000 for charity.
Like last year, the band is playing to benefit the Federal Employee Education and Assistance (FEEA) Fund, NTEU’s non-profit organization, which is devoted exclusively to helping federal employees and their families through emergency assistance and... Read more ...
Like last year, the band is playing to benefit the Federal Employee Education and Assistance (FEEA) Fund, NTEU’s non-profit organization, which is devoted exclusively to helping federal employees and their families through emergency assistance and... Read more ...
07/01/2019
Last week, the House of Representatives passed a Fiscal Year 2020 (FY 2020) spending bill by a vote of 224 to 196 that included funding for a number of agencies where NTEU represents employees, including the SEC, IRS, Bureau of Fiscal Service, Treasury Departmental Offices, Bureau of Engraving & Printing, Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Election Commission. Earlier that week, NTEU sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives urging them to support this bill, reject amendments that cut agency funding and support other amendments to support employees at the... Read more ...
06/04/2019
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which determines funding for, among other things, the SEC and other NTEU-represented agencies and has jurisdiction over government-wide employee issues, has voted to approve its FY 2020 bill. The full Appropriations Committee voted to approve the bill today. NTEU is pleased to inform you that the bill calls for a $175 million increase for the SEC, $100 million over the Administration’s request, which should allow for improved compensation as well as needed staffing increases. NTEU has worked hard to obtain... Read more ...
03/19/2019
In a reversal of the SEC’s longstanding approach to recruiting and retaining an elite corps of professionals, the Commission announced today, over the union’s objection, that it will impose the lowest 2019 pay package in the federal sector, based on currently available data. This is despite Congress fully funding the SEC’s annual budget request this year.
SEC management has notified the union that it intends to impose a total pay increase of 2.4% for 2019. Only 1% of this increase will be applied to raise the SEC’s pay caps at the top of grades—roughly one third less than the 1.4% cap... Read more ...
SEC management has notified the union that it intends to impose a total pay increase of 2.4% for 2019. Only 1% of this increase will be applied to raise the SEC’s pay caps at the top of grades—roughly one third less than the 1.4% cap... Read more ...
03/19/2019
The second part of the White House 2020 budget proposal released this week reaffirms the administration’s persistent, sprawling agenda to denigrate federal employees, shrink their paychecks and pensions and weaken their rights in the workplace. “Just like last year, I am appalled to see an administration put in writing so many different ways to attack its own employees,” said National Treasury Employees Union President Tony Reardon. “Under the guise of ‘strengthening the federal workforce,’ this budget proposal would cut their take home pay, reduce their retirement benefits, expose them to... Read more ...
02/08/2019
Yesterday, Senator Brian Schatz (HI) and Representative Gerry Connolly (VA) introduced the NTEU-supported FAIR Act, which would provide a 3.6 percent pay increase to federal employees in January 2020.
The Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act (5 USC 5303) indicates that federal employees should receive a 2.6 percent pay raise in January 2020, prior to any amount being provided for locality pay rate increases. This formula is designed to ensure that the gap between federal government and private sector wages does not further deteriorate. According to the most recent Federal Pay Agent Report,... Read more ...
The Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act (5 USC 5303) indicates that federal employees should receive a 2.6 percent pay raise in January 2020, prior to any amount being provided for locality pay rate increases. This formula is designed to ensure that the gap between federal government and private sector wages does not further deteriorate. According to the most recent Federal Pay Agent Report,... Read more ...
02/08/2019
The Executive Director of the Thrift Savings Plan Board has reported that there was a 5% increase in loans and a 26% increase in hardship withdrawals since December 26, 2018. Given the interest of TSP participants in requesting loans during the government shutdown, the Thrift Board is issuing an interim rule that amends the TSP regulations to allow certain TSP participants to request a loan during government shutdowns without regard to whether they are in pay status. The rule states that TSP participants affected by a lapse in appropriations will be allowed to take a loan and to immediately... Read more ...
01/14/2019
As a reminder, the following NTEU-represented agencies are currently under a lapse of appropriations: IRS and other Department of Treasury Offices and Bureaus, CBP and FLETC, CFTC, EPA, FCC, FDA, FEC, NPS, PTO, SEC, and USDA.
The stalemate over reopening the government continues. There were no meetings over the weekend between the administration and congressional leaders.
During an event at the White House yesterday afternoon President Trump said that he will sign S. 24, which passed Congress last week. This NTEU-supported legislation would ensure that all federal employees are paid... Read more ...
The stalemate over reopening the government continues. There were no meetings over the weekend between the administration and congressional leaders.
During an event at the White House yesterday afternoon President Trump said that he will sign S. 24, which passed Congress last week. This NTEU-supported legislation would ensure that all federal employees are paid... Read more ...
11/15/2018
WHEN: On Tuesday, December 4, 2018, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM Eastern, NTEU Chapter 293 will hold a member meeting for the purpose of voting on ratification of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Any bargaining unit employee who is not a member of the union may not vote. If you are a nonmember and you would like to participate in this important vote, you can join the union by filling out a Form SF-1187 (Standard Dues Withholding Form) and submitting a PDF of the executed form to Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman at any time prior to December 4.
WHERE: Members in Headquarters will... Read more ...
Any bargaining unit employee who is not a member of the union may not vote. If you are a nonmember and you would like to participate in this important vote, you can join the union by filling out a Form SF-1187 (Standard Dues Withholding Form) and submitting a PDF of the executed form to Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman at any time prior to December 4.
WHERE: Members in Headquarters will... Read more ...
06/19/2018
Yesterday, the Senate passed its version of the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R. 5515, by a vote of 85 to 10. Although there were several amendments filed that adversely impacted federal employees, including on official time for union representation, those amendments were successfully blocked and not considered. The bill now goes to a House and Senate Conference Committee to work out differences between the two bills.
As the union reported earlier, section 1123 of the Senate bill would increase the amount of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIPs)... Read more ...
As the union reported earlier, section 1123 of the Senate bill would increase the amount of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIPs)... Read more ...
06/10/2018
On June 7, the House of Representatives cleared H.R. 3, the Spending Cuts to Expired and Unnecessary Programs Act, by a vote of 210-206. Requested by the White House on May 8 using the presidential rescission authority under the 1974 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act, the approximately $14.7 billion package of spending cuts, introduced and shepherded by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA), derives from unspent agency funds.
Under the 1974 budget law, the president can submit a formal rescissions proposal to Congress, for Congress to then consider the requested... Read more ...
Under the 1974 budget law, the president can submit a formal rescissions proposal to Congress, for Congress to then consider the requested... Read more ...
05/23/2018
"Unions, by and large, are democratic organizations with freely chosen leaders and policies determined by their membership. They concern themselves with individual dignity not only in their aims but in their method. We have no better example of what is worthy of emulation abroad than the workings of a good union." --Robert Kennedy
05/23/2018
The House of Representatives yesterday afternoon voted to pass S. 2155, a bill previously passed by the Senate to make certain changes to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. President Trump is expected to sign this bill. This possibly concludes an effort begun earlier this year originating with HR 10, which proponents call the “CHOICE Act.” You may recall that NTEU reported that this bill should be called the “Wrong Choice Act” because of the harm it would cause employees at financial regulatory agencies as well as consumers and depositors.
As originally reported... Read more ...
As originally reported... Read more ...
05/23/2018
This month, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent a formal legislative proposal to Speaker Paul Ryan (WI) requesting that a number of changes to the federal retirement program be acted upon by Congress. Specifically, the OPM transmittal provides Congress with the language needed to implement the administration’s standing retirement proposals contained in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget request to Congress.
As a reminder, these retirement changes would:
Increase required employee contributions to FERS by 6 to 7 percent;
Eliminate the FERS supplement;
Change the High Three to a High... Read more ...
As a reminder, these retirement changes would:
Increase required employee contributions to FERS by 6 to 7 percent;
Eliminate the FERS supplement;
Change the High Three to a High... Read more ...
05/16/2018
NTEU submitted testimony to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s first hearing on the President’s Management Agenda.
Unveiled in March, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s plan seeks to “modernize” federal personnel laws and policies, by drastically cutting federal employee compensation (in the areas of pay, retirement and health care insurance benefits, and leave), overhauling performance management and hiring, limiting collective bargaining, and making it easier to discipline and fire employees.
In its testimony, NTEU made clear our strong opposition to the... Read more ...
Unveiled in March, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)’s plan seeks to “modernize” federal personnel laws and policies, by drastically cutting federal employee compensation (in the areas of pay, retirement and health care insurance benefits, and leave), overhauling performance management and hiring, limiting collective bargaining, and making it easier to discipline and fire employees.
In its testimony, NTEU made clear our strong opposition to the... Read more ...
04/27/2018
The House of Representatives considers several budgets with differing points of view in its formation of a budget resolution. By design, the budget resolution is the first step in the overall congressional budget cycle, and is to provide a comprehensive plan to Congress for addressing the government’s fiscal challenges. A budget resolution serves to outline policy goals and overall spending targets for the subsequent consideration of specific appropriations and authorization measures for agencies and programs.
This week, the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of House conservatives with... Read more ...
This week, the Republican Study Committee, a caucus of House conservatives with... Read more ...
04/20/2018
Last week, the House of Representatives voted on a balanced budget amendment (H.J. Res. 2) that would amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit annual federal outlays (spending) from exceeding revenue, unless Congress were to approve exceptions by a significant threshold (a 3/5 vote in each chamber). The amendment would also require the President to submit a fully balanced budget request to Congress annually. As designed, the measure would dramatically clamp down on funding for federal programs, and as an amendment to the Constitution must also be ratified by 3/4 of the states, following... Read more ...
04/20/2018
Representatives Loudermilk (GA) and Connolly (VA) recently introduced the Government Customer Service Accountability and Improvement Act of 2018, H.R. 5402, which would require the establishment of customer service standards at federal agencies and encourage agencies to measure the public’s experience and interaction with agencies.
The bill would also require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to select certain agencies to assist in the development of customer experience standards and agency performance plans. Under the bill, the senior management official for customer... Read more ...
The bill would also require the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to select certain agencies to assist in the development of customer experience standards and agency performance plans. Under the bill, the senior management official for customer... Read more ...
02/12/2018
The President’s proposed budget to Congress for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 has been officially released. As a reminder, an administration’s budget request serves as a spending blueprint and guide to Congress, and additional legislation is then needed to enact the majority of its specific recommendations and proposals.
The federal workforce is under attack from all sides in the President’s budget request—including in the areas of pay, performance management, retirement, health insurance, workers’ compensation, leave, labor-management relations and due process rights.
Pay and Performance... Read more ...
The federal workforce is under attack from all sides in the President’s budget request—including in the areas of pay, performance management, retirement, health insurance, workers’ compensation, leave, labor-management relations and due process rights.
Pay and Performance... Read more ...
02/05/2018
At this time, Congress does not have a deal to fund federal agencies past Thursday night, and the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expires February 8 at midnight. The House of Representatives is currently scheduled to be in session only three days this week.
House Republican leadership is writing a CR to run through March 22, and it is reported that votes could take place on Tuesday, February 6. However, without an overall agreement on defense and non-defense spending levels, as well as other outstanding policy issues, such as immigration, it remains unclear if there are enough votes to... Read more ...
House Republican leadership is writing a CR to run through March 22, and it is reported that votes could take place on Tuesday, February 6. However, without an overall agreement on defense and non-defense spending levels, as well as other outstanding policy issues, such as immigration, it remains unclear if there are enough votes to... Read more ...
01/30/2018
In October 2017, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) to dismantle the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations. The “Presidential Executive Order on the Revocation of Executive Order Creating Labor-Management Forums” overrides both the Obama Administration’s EO 13522, issued in December 2009 to re-establish the Clinton era created agency labor-management forums, and its subsequent EO 13708 issued in September 2015 that extended the authority for the National Council on Federal Labor-Management Relations, co-chaired and operated by the Office of Management and Budget... Read more ...