6/11/09: The Senate is expected to cast its final vote on H.R. 1256, the FDA tobacco regulation bill today. Included in the legislative package are changes to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), including the automatic enrollment in TSP for new employees and the addition of a qualified Roth contribution program for those who choose one. NTEU backed these provisions, which, as I reported earlier, have already passed the House.
Unfortunately, because of procedural rules, a bipartisan, NTEU-backed amendment that mirrored the House-passed provisions on counting unused FERS sick leave toward retirement... Read more ...
Union News Archive
06/10/2009
6/11/09: The first phase of the merit pay settlement, which occurred a few months ago, involved the distribution of $2.7 million in lump sum amounts to affected employees based on their service dates, the merit pay raises they received and, in the case of employees over the age of forty, the date on which they turned forty.
The second phase of the settlement, salary adjustments, will show up in employees’ second pay check in June. If some or all of the salary adjustment would result in the employee’s salary exceeding the salary grade maximum, the excess amount will be paid to the employee as... Read more ...
The second phase of the settlement, salary adjustments, will show up in employees’ second pay check in June. If some or all of the salary adjustment would result in the employee’s salary exceeding the salary grade maximum, the excess amount will be paid to the employee as... Read more ...
06/09/2009
6/9/09: Federal employees came one step closer to gaining paid parental leave last week when the House passed H.R. 626. This bill, introduced by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), was designated a legislative priority by NTEU's Legislative Advisory Committee in January, and NTEU worked closely with the congresswoman to attain its passage. This measure will allow federal workers the ability to better balance family needs and work requirements as access to paid parental leave has become a necessity for today’s working families.
No parent should have to choose between a paycheck and a child... Read more ...
No parent should have to choose between a paycheck and a child... Read more ...
06/03/2009
6/3/09: SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government yesterday. Click here to read the testimony.
05/22/2009
5/21/09: Chapter 293 recently increased the ranks of its senior leadership.
Katie Nix will now be serving as a Senior Chapter Adviser with an emphasis on EEO and disabilities issues. Katie will be consulting with chapter stewards on these types of cases. As part of her shifting duties, she will be stepping down from her position as Chief Steward.
Katie has done an outstanding job as Chief Steward over the past couple of years. She recently won a Chapter 293 award for her exemplary service, and she will continue to be actively involved with grievances at a senior level. All members and... Read more ...
Katie Nix will now be serving as a Senior Chapter Adviser with an emphasis on EEO and disabilities issues. Katie will be consulting with chapter stewards on these types of cases. As part of her shifting duties, she will be stepping down from her position as Chief Steward.
Katie has done an outstanding job as Chief Steward over the past couple of years. She recently won a Chapter 293 award for her exemplary service, and she will continue to be actively involved with grievances at a senior level. All members and... Read more ...
05/22/2009
5/21/09: A key Senate committee's approval this week of legislation that would expand federal telework opportunities is a needed and welcome step forward in efforts to expand the availability of this important workplace program, said NTEU National President Colleen Kelley.
The bill, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2009, would complement an enhanced telework initiative announced last month by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director John Berry. The measure, introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), was approved today by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. It... Read more ...
The bill, the Telework Enhancement Act of 2009, would complement an enhanced telework initiative announced last month by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director John Berry. The measure, introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), was approved today by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. It... Read more ...
05/21/2009
Here are the managers assigned to the various Enforcement Division Working Groups:
Specialization:
David Bergers
Andy Calamari
Kit Addleman
Kay Lackey
Michele Layne
Lou Mejia
Merri Jo Gillette
Rick Firestone
Cheryl Scarboro
Marc Fagel
Tim Warren
Management Plan:
Roz Tyson
John Dugan
Don Hoerl
Pauline Calande
Rick Firestone
Streamlining Internal Processes:
Marc Fagel
Toni Chion
David Rosenfeld
Kit Addleman
David Nelson
Steve Korotash
Ken Israel
Andy Petillon
Charles Wright
Enforcement Metrics:
Michele Layne
Cheryl Scarboro
Merri Jo Gillette
Lou Mejia
Glenn Gordon
Mike Dicke
Fostering a... Read more ...
Specialization:
David Bergers
Andy Calamari
Kit Addleman
Kay Lackey
Michele Layne
Lou Mejia
Merri Jo Gillette
Rick Firestone
Cheryl Scarboro
Marc Fagel
Tim Warren
Management Plan:
Roz Tyson
John Dugan
Don Hoerl
Pauline Calande
Rick Firestone
Streamlining Internal Processes:
Marc Fagel
Toni Chion
David Rosenfeld
Kit Addleman
David Nelson
Steve Korotash
Ken Israel
Andy Petillon
Charles Wright
Enforcement Metrics:
Michele Layne
Cheryl Scarboro
Merri Jo Gillette
Lou Mejia
Glenn Gordon
Mike Dicke
Fostering a... Read more ...
05/17/2009
5/15/09: NTEU has appointed the bargaining unit employees listed below from those who volunteered to fill the slots provided by management on the various Enforcement Division Management Work Groups that are currently discussing the following issues: specialization, revising management structure, streamlining processes, measuring success, fostering consistency in the national program, centralizing risk management, training, improving the HUB, case closing procedures, and fostering cooperation by individuals. Please feel free to contact them with any suggestions or comments that you might have... Read more ...
05/08/2009
Thank you for submitting your comments related to changes in the Division of Enforcement.
We appreciate your willingness to assist the union in its representation of the non-management employees in the Division.
Return to the home page.
05/07/2009
5/6/09: NTEU is looking forward to working with new leadership at the SEC “to alter the course of the misguided human capital policies” of the last administration, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley today told the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment in testimony submitted in connection with a hearing focused on strengthening the SEC’s enforcement program. Review her testimony here. Her testimony covered a range of topics, including improving organizational structure, the need for additional market, financial and accounting... Read more ...
05/06/2009
5/5/09: During oral arguments in the DC Circuit Court of Appeals today, NTEU asked the court to uphold a Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) ruling that the SEC committed an unfair labor practice when it unilaterally moved from the General Schedule (GS) to a merit pay system prior to the completion of bargaining.
In SEC v. FLRA, NTEU argued that the court must agree with the FLRA that the agency illegally implemented its new merit pay system. The union is seeking back pay for employees who did not receive within-grade increases from May 19 to November 8, 2002, or who received smaller... Read more ...
In SEC v. FLRA, NTEU argued that the court must agree with the FLRA that the agency illegally implemented its new merit pay system. The union is seeking back pay for employees who did not receive within-grade increases from May 19 to November 8, 2002, or who received smaller... Read more ...
05/06/2009
5/5/09: The House and Senate last week approved a final 2010 conference report supporting military-civilian parity in next year's pay raise.
Along with preserving the long tradition of pay parity, the resolution calls for additional funding of the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration and Food and Drug Administration.
While non-binding, NTEU believes the budget resolution is a significant first step forward with respect to the pay raise. As Congress begins work on appropriations bills to implement the budget blueprint, NTEU will continue its efforts to secure pay parity and... Read more ...
Along with preserving the long tradition of pay parity, the resolution calls for additional funding of the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security Administration and Food and Drug Administration.
While non-binding, NTEU believes the budget resolution is a significant first step forward with respect to the pay raise. As Congress begins work on appropriations bills to implement the budget blueprint, NTEU will continue its efforts to secure pay parity and... Read more ...
05/02/2009
5/2/09: NTEU is moving aggressively to demand appropriate steps to protect employees at the nation’s air, land, and sea ports of entry from the possibility of contracting swine flu. NTEU National President Colleen Kelley has asked senior management in the Department of Homeland Security to modify its ban against Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers and Transportation Security Officers wearing masks, and permit employees to don a mask at their discretion. She has pointed out to DHS and CBP that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has said that a traveler could be contagious with the... Read more ...
05/02/2009
5/1/09: The head of the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees applauded this week's announcement of a new administration program seeking to expand employee opportunities across government to telework. The program is in line with bipartisan legislation introduced in the House last month.
“Combined with the House legislation, the Obama administration effort would put in place across the federal government a uniform and consistent telework policy that would have positive impacts not only on the workforce, but on their agencies as well,” said NTEU National President Colleen ... Read more ...
“Combined with the House legislation, the Obama administration effort would put in place across the federal government a uniform and consistent telework policy that would have positive impacts not only on the workforce, but on their agencies as well,” said NTEU National President Colleen ... Read more ...
05/02/2009
5/2/09: Last week, yet another sister financial regulatory agency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), notified its employees that it was increasing the maximum monthly transit subsidy for its employees from $120 to $230. This increase, which was made pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed into law by President Obama on February 17, will be retroactive to March 1, 2009, the date on which the new law became effective. NTEU has urged the SEC to provided a similar increase to its employees. To date, however, the agency has failed to do so.
04/23/2009
4/23/09: With the federal workforce poised to play an increasingly important role in helping resolve the nation’s serious problems, it is vital that Congress and the administration address a number of key workplace issues—particularly dealing with recruitment and retention, the leader of the nation’s largest independent union of federal employees told a House subcommittee yesterday.
“These are exciting times in the federal service,” President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) told a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the... Read more ...
“These are exciting times in the federal service,” President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) told a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the... Read more ...
04/23/2009
4/23/09: Employees at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency recently received the news that their maximum public transportation subsidies would be increased from $120 to $230, effective June 1, 2009. This increased benefit was provided for in the economic stimulus bill signed into law by President Obama back in February. While employees at the OCC are disappointed that this change did not occur more quickly, they are pleased that senior management understands the importance of encouraging employees to use public transit to save oil, decrease environmental damage and ease the employees... Read more ...
04/21/2009
President's Perspective, April 2009: There has been much discussion both inside and outside the SEC over the past several years – not to mention the last several months – about how to improve the SEC’s Enforcement program. Beyond the obvious suggestion of hiring more staff, many opportunities exist to refocus the manner in which the Division of Enforcement leverages its highly skilled frontline employees to advance the Commission’s mission.
Perhaps the single biggest challenge facing Enforcement (as well as other SEC offices and divisions) is the out-dated, multi-layered and redundant... Read more ...
Perhaps the single biggest challenge facing Enforcement (as well as other SEC offices and divisions) is the out-dated, multi-layered and redundant... Read more ...
04/21/2009
Last year, the SEC filed with the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals a Petition for Review of NTEU's Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) victory in the 2002 within grade increase (WIGI) case. Briefs have been filed in this appeal, and the Court has scheduled oral argument for May 5. We hope to have a decision this summer.
NTEU originally commenced this case when it filed a complaint against the SEC in 2002, asserting that the agency had violated the law by unilaterally terminating WIGIs without first completing bargaining. The SEC ceased giving employees WIGIs as of May 19,... Read more ...
NTEU originally commenced this case when it filed a complaint against the SEC in 2002, asserting that the agency had violated the law by unilaterally terminating WIGIs without first completing bargaining. The SEC ceased giving employees WIGIs as of May 19,... Read more ...
04/21/2009
In March, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Acting Director Kathie Ann Whipple announced the appointment of NTEU Senior Deputy General Counsel Elaine Kaplan as the agency’s General Counsel.
With Kaplan’s appointment, OPM gains the expertise of an individual with more than 25 years of legal experience in the fields of federal sector labor and employment law who is uniquely qualified to serve OPM in its role as the President’s chief advisor on federal human resources issues.
Kaplan began her legal career in the Solicitor’s office of the U.S. Department of Labor, first in the Employee Benefits... Read more ...
With Kaplan’s appointment, OPM gains the expertise of an individual with more than 25 years of legal experience in the fields of federal sector labor and employment law who is uniquely qualified to serve OPM in its role as the President’s chief advisor on federal human resources issues.
Kaplan began her legal career in the Solicitor’s office of the U.S. Department of Labor, first in the Employee Benefits... Read more ...
04/21/2009
In March, Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman visited with employees at luncheon events in the Philadelphia Regional Office and in the Office of General Counsel in Washington. During both of these visits, Gilman provided representational updates and answered employee questions on issues ranging from compensation, personnel management and benefits to financial regulatory reform. In Philadelphia, he also met with the local stewards and Regional Office Director Dan Hawke to discuss labor management relations.
Thanks to NTEU stewards Patricia Trujillo, Paul Lapinski and Eric Helmer in Philadelphia... Read more ...
Thanks to NTEU stewards Patricia Trujillo, Paul Lapinski and Eric Helmer in Philadelphia... Read more ...
04/21/2009
The salary adjustments (raises) for SEC employees under the NTEU-negotiated merit pay settlement are scheduled to occur in June 2009. Under the settlement agreement, these salary adjustments are required to happen within ninety days of passage of the FY 2009 budget, which was signed into law by President Obama last month.
To be eligible for a salary adjustment, an employee must be a member of one of the two groups covered by the agreement – African-American bargaining unit employees in grades 8 and above (320 employees), and all bargaining unit employees aged 40 or older (981 employees). To... Read more ...
To be eligible for a salary adjustment, an employee must be a member of one of the two groups covered by the agreement – African-American bargaining unit employees in grades 8 and above (320 employees), and all bargaining unit employees aged 40 or older (981 employees). To... Read more ...
04/21/2009
In March, over 350 NTEU members took part in the 2009 NTEU Legislative Conference. Participants attended workshops, heard speeches from key policymakers , met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and learned about issues of prime importance to NTEU’s 2009 legislative agenda.
The conference included speeches by Representative Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Services and the District of Columbia of the House Oversight and Government Reform... Read more ...
The conference included speeches by Representative Edolphus Towns (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Representative Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Services and the District of Columbia of the House Oversight and Government Reform... Read more ...
04/21/2009
As part of this year’s NTEU Legislative Conference in March, union representatives from several financial regulatory agencies represented by NTEU – the SEC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the National Credit Union Administration – met with the Senior Counsel for the Senate Banking Committee. At the meeting, these union leaders discussed options that the Committee may be considering as it considers possible changes to the structure and authority of the federal financial regulatory agencies.
The Committee’s Senior Counsel indicated... Read more ...
The Committee’s Senior Counsel indicated... Read more ...
04/21/2009
This week, Chapter 293 launched the next generation of its website here at www.secunion.org. The new site has been redesigned for ease of use, and contains a wealth of news and content for SEC employees on benefits, compensation, legislative matters, and more.
Please take a moment to check out the features on this new site, and provide any comments or suggestions that you might have to Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman at [email protected].
Please take a moment to check out the features on this new site, and provide any comments or suggestions that you might have to Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman at [email protected].