6/6/07: Late yesterday the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government of the House Appropriations Committee approved a number of NTEU’s priority legislative issues. While specific language will not be available until the full Appropriations Committee takes up the measure next week, the subcommittee took the following action.
First, a federal employee pay raise of 3.5 percent for 2008 was approved. This amount is one half percent higher than the President recommended and is equal to the 2008 military pay raise approved by the House and reported in the Senate. NTEU has advocated... Read more ...
Union News Archive
05/25/2007
5/25/07: In a development that is significant to the federal employees' pay raise for 2008, the Senate Committee on Armed Services approved S. 567, its version of the Department of Defense’s Authorization Act which includes the 3.5 percent military pay raise. Earlier, on May 17, 2007, the House of Representatives passed its bill with the 3.5 percent raise. The Senate bill will be scheduled for action on the Senate Floor after the Memorial Day recess.
NTEU worked diligently with congressional committees on both the House and Senate sides in favor of the 3.5 percent level. This is ½ percent... Read more ...
NTEU worked diligently with congressional committees on both the House and Senate sides in favor of the 3.5 percent level. This is ½ percent... Read more ...
05/24/2007
5/24/07: On Wednesday, May 23, at the end of the SEC's 52nd Annual Awards Celebration, NTEU Chapter 293 President Greg Gilman and OHR Associate Executive Director Jeff Risinger jointly accepted an award presented to the SEC in recognition of its recent ranking as the "third best place to work" in the federal government. This award was presented by John Palguta from the Partnership for Public Service. The Partnership, together with American University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation, created the "Best Places to Work" rankings based on the results from last year's OPM... Read more ...
05/22/2007
5/22/07: Today, NTEU President Colleen Kelley submitted a statement to the Subcommittee on the Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia, a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. The subcommittee has been reviewing growth trends in health care premiums under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). In her statement, President Kelley expressed support for three measures to help keep the program affordable for federal employees, retirees, and their dependents in the future. These measures... Read more ...
05/20/2007
5/20/07: In recent weeks, Chapter 293 leadership at the SEC has grown stronger through the addition of new stewards in several offices and divisions:
Office of Financial Management: Danny Gay
Division of Enforcement: Lisa Ivory
New York Regional Office: Fred Haberfeld
Division of Enforcement: Cory Kirchert
Office of Administrative Services: Betty Perry
New York Regional Office: Azam Riaz
New York Regional Office: Belinda Rodriguez
Division of Corporation Finance: Dean Suehiro
Office of Information Technology: Luis Toledo
These individuals bring their unique backgrounds,... Read more ...
Office of Financial Management: Danny Gay
Division of Enforcement: Lisa Ivory
New York Regional Office: Fred Haberfeld
Division of Enforcement: Cory Kirchert
Office of Administrative Services: Betty Perry
New York Regional Office: Azam Riaz
New York Regional Office: Belinda Rodriguez
Division of Corporation Finance: Dean Suehiro
Office of Information Technology: Luis Toledo
These individuals bring their unique backgrounds,... Read more ...
05/18/2007
5/17/07: In a vote of 397-27, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1585, the Department of Defense’s Authorization Act for fiscal year 2008 which includes the 3.5 percent military pay raise. This is ½ percent above the administration’s recommended increase of 3 percent and significant for federal employees who have received pay parity with the military in recent years. The Senate Armed Services subcommittees will begin marking up their version of the authorization bill next week.
While the military pay raise still needs to be considered by the House and Senate appropriations committees... Read more ...
While the military pay raise still needs to be considered by the House and Senate appropriations committees... Read more ...
05/15/2007
5/15/07: On Wednesday, May 16, the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will begin work on fiscal 2008 funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission, which will have a significant impact upon your compensation. Chairman Christopher Cox is scheduled to testify. In March, he testified in support of the president's $905.3 million budget request for SEC before the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. To read Chairman Cox's House testimony, click here.
NTEU urges Chairman Cox to seek sufficient funding for... Read more ...
NTEU urges Chairman Cox to seek sufficient funding for... Read more ...
05/11/2007
5/11/07: The Full Armed Services Committee unanimously accepted the recommendations of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel to increase the military pay raise to 3.5 percent, one-half percent higher than the administration’s budget submission and reported its bill this week. This NTEU-promoted measure is good news for federal civil servants who have received pay parity with the military in recent years.
In addition, the committee passed an amendment to require that future military pay raises be based on the Employment Cost Index plus one half percent for the years 2009 through 2012. This... Read more ...
In addition, the committee passed an amendment to require that future military pay raises be based on the Employment Cost Index plus one half percent for the years 2009 through 2012. This... Read more ...
05/11/2007
5/11/07: We have all experienced the chaos that ensues when moving. Even a local move entails a long list of address changes involving driver’s licenses, utilities, and notification to friends, family, and your agency of your new address. Entering a change of address with an agency does not result in an address change in NTEU’s records. If you do not notify NTEU of a new address, it will prevent you from receiving a membership card, the Bulletin, and other written communications from NTEU that get mailed via U.S. Mail.
Since the moving process is so hectic, NTEU has devised a way for members... Read more ...
Since the moving process is so hectic, NTEU has devised a way for members... Read more ...
05/03/2007
5/3/07: Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Military Personnel of the House Armed Services Committee reported legislation to increase the military pay raise to 3.5 percent, one-half percent higher than the Administration’s budget requested. This measure, which was promoted by NTEU, passed with unanimous bipartisan support. It will be considered next week by the Full House Armed Services Committee.
As previously reported on this website (here), on March 20, 2007, NTEU President Colleen Kelley wrote to every member of the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel urging them to add one-half percent... Read more ...
As previously reported on this website (here), on March 20, 2007, NTEU President Colleen Kelley wrote to every member of the House Subcommittee on Military Personnel urging them to add one-half percent... Read more ...
04/27/2007
4/27/07: In last October's SEC compensation decision from the Federal Service Impasses Panel, the Panel imposed a new rule that would cap all SEC pay increases at 6 percent, or to the minimum salary for the next grade, when an employee is promoted to the next grade.
However, for employees whose minimum pay in grade has been set as a Step 14 (those who were previously identified as “Securities Industry” or “SI”), NTEU negotiated a "grandfather" clause requiring the SEC to continue its past practice regarding career ladder promotions for all such employees who were hired by the SEC prior to... Read more ...
However, for employees whose minimum pay in grade has been set as a Step 14 (those who were previously identified as “Securities Industry” or “SI”), NTEU negotiated a "grandfather" clause requiring the SEC to continue its past practice regarding career ladder promotions for all such employees who were hired by the SEC prior to... Read more ...
04/27/2007
4/27/07: The Partnership for Public Service and American University’s Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation recently released biennial rankings of the “best places to work in the federal government.” These rankings were based upon a survey of federal employees at a number of agencies across the government. The SEC ranked third among federal agencies overall, in large part due to NTEU's efforts. The agency, however, has work ahead to improve the work environment for all of its employees.
The survey that these rankings were based upon is the OPM Federal Human Capital Survey,... Read more ...
The survey that these rankings were based upon is the OPM Federal Human Capital Survey,... Read more ...
04/27/2007
President's Perspective, April 2007: SEC employees and managers alike have a strong interest in ensuring that the SEC succeeds in its mission of regulating and protecting the financial markets of the United States. For that reason, SEC management and SEC employees’ union representatives both have a mutual stake in working cooperatively to enhance the agency’s effectiveness and efficiency, increase employee morale, and reduce employment-related disputes. Constructing an effective labor-management relationship at the agency is a two-way street. It requires both management and union leaders to... Read more ...
04/25/2007
On April 17, 2007, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued its long-awaited final regulations regarding the administration of a new benefit for employees — compensatory time for official travel. The final regulations correct some, but not all, of the problems identified in comments submitted by NTEU in March 2005 to the interim regulations.
In 2004, NTEU was instrumental in securing the passage of legislation that for the first time provided payment in the form of compensatory time to employees required to travel for government business at times when they were not otherwise... Read more ...
In 2004, NTEU was instrumental in securing the passage of legislation that for the first time provided payment in the form of compensatory time to employees required to travel for government business at times when they were not otherwise... Read more ...
04/25/2007
4/25/07: The 2008 federal pay raise is one of the important issues under consideration on both sides of Congress. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees continue to hold hearings on federal agencies’ budgets for fiscal year 2008 and, in the upcoming weeks, legislation addressing federal employees’ and military pay will be proposed. In addition to deliberations by the subcommittees with jurisdiction over federal employees’ pay, the military pay raise is being considered by the House and Senate Subcommittees on Defense Appropriations and by the Armed Services authorizing committees.... Read more ...
04/13/2007
For a printable version of the April 2007 issue of Chapter 293 Works click here.
Or click the following links to individual articles:
NTEU Wins Plus Loan SettlementPlans Unveiled for NTEU-Negotiated Childcare CenterColonial Life Benefits Presentation at Miami Regional OfficeSEC Shifts CSE Oversight from OCIE to Market RegGilman Visits Philadelphia Regional OfficeNTEU Supports Reappointment of Pope to FLRAJoint Performance Management Committee MeetsMediation - An Important Alternative Dispute Resolution ToolNTEU Sets 2007 Priorities at Annual Legislative ConferenceNTEU Calls for 3.5% Pay... Read more ...
Or click the following links to individual articles:
NTEU Wins Plus Loan SettlementPlans Unveiled for NTEU-Negotiated Childcare CenterColonial Life Benefits Presentation at Miami Regional OfficeSEC Shifts CSE Oversight from OCIE to Market RegGilman Visits Philadelphia Regional OfficeNTEU Supports Reappointment of Pope to FLRAJoint Performance Management Committee MeetsMediation - An Important Alternative Dispute Resolution ToolNTEU Sets 2007 Priorities at Annual Legislative ConferenceNTEU Calls for 3.5% Pay... Read more ...
04/10/2007
4/10/07: NTEU is extremely proud of its critical role in spearheading and negotiating for the creation of a new Child Development Center at Headquarters in Washington, D.C., the design plans for which were announced this week. The new facility will be called The Harbor at Station Place.
The road leading up to the new Child Development Center began when NTEU commenced negotiations with SEC management regarding the office move to Station Place. In 2004, NTEU surveyed dues paying members to determine what their priorities were with respect to the new building. It was readily apparent that a... Read more ...
The road leading up to the new Child Development Center began when NTEU commenced negotiations with SEC management regarding the office move to Station Place. In 2004, NTEU surveyed dues paying members to determine what their priorities were with respect to the new building. It was readily apparent that a... Read more ...
04/04/2007
4/3/07: I am pleased to report that on Friday, March 30, NTEU and the SEC finalized a settlement agreement to reimburse agency employees who applied for federal PLUS loans (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) in 2005. PLUS loans allow parents to borrow up to the total cost of college for their child. The resulting settlement will result in employees being reimbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The settlement was negotiated following National Arbitrator Joseph M. Sharnoff’s January 25, 2007 ruling that sustained NTEU’s grievance alleging that the SEC violated Article 25 of the... Read more ...
The settlement was negotiated following National Arbitrator Joseph M. Sharnoff’s January 25, 2007 ruling that sustained NTEU’s grievance alleging that the SEC violated Article 25 of the... Read more ...
03/28/2007
3/26/07: Pursuant to the Federal Labor-Management Relations Statute (FLMRS) and Article 3, Section 7C of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the SEC and the NTEU, this serves as the semi-annual notice to employees of their representation rights under the FLMRS.
Section 7114 (a) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (Title 5 of the U.S. Code) provides representation rights for employees in units of exclusive recognition during certain investigatory examinations by officials of the Agency. Specifically, Section 7114 (a), in pertinent part provides that:
(2) An exclusive... Read more ...
Section 7114 (a) of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 (Title 5 of the U.S. Code) provides representation rights for employees in units of exclusive recognition during certain investigatory examinations by officials of the Agency. Specifically, Section 7114 (a), in pertinent part provides that:
(2) An exclusive... Read more ...
03/25/2007
3/24/07: On March 6, 2007, Senator John Warner of Virginia introduced S. 773, legislation to allow federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pre-tax basis. The bill, known as the premium conversion bill, was introduced with bipartisan support and is pending in the Finance Committee. It is similar to legislation introduced earlier in the House of Representatives.
S. 773 would allow federal and military retirees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for their health insurance premiums. Active federal workers have been eligible for this treatment since October 2000... Read more ...
S. 773 would allow federal and military retirees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for their health insurance premiums. Active federal workers have been eligible for this treatment since October 2000... Read more ...
03/21/2007
3/21/07: NTEU President Colleen Kelley today joined with a coalition of organizations representing members of the military and their families in calling for a 3.5 percent pay raise in fiscal 2008 for military personnel. That raise would be half-a-percentage point higher than the three percent raise proposed by the administration for next year for both those in the military and members of the civilian federal workforce.
In letters to every member of the military personnel subcommittees of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, President Kelley said the higher raise would help... Read more ...
In letters to every member of the military personnel subcommittees of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, President Kelley said the higher raise would help... Read more ...
03/20/2007
3/15/07: On March 14, 2007, by a vote of 331 to 94, the House of Representatives passed the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985). The Act is the first major reform of federal whistleblower laws in 18 years and cures numerous weaknesses in existing law.
Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, introduced a different version of the whistleblower legislation — S. 274—but has not yet begun Committee consideration.
NTEU... Read more ...
Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, introduced a different version of the whistleblower legislation — S. 274—but has not yet begun Committee consideration.
NTEU... Read more ...
03/15/2007
3/13/07: In a legal case with potentially far-reaching First Amendment implications throughout the federal workforce, NTEU has won a preliminary injunction preventing the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from forcing an employee to choose between his job and public service to his community.
“This injunction is an important step forward in a vital case in the continuing battle to protect the free speech rights of federal employees,” said NTEU President Colleen Kelley. NTEU has a long and successful history in the fight for First Amendment rights for federal workers.
This case,... Read more ...
“This injunction is an important step forward in a vital case in the continuing battle to protect the free speech rights of federal employees,” said NTEU President Colleen Kelley. NTEU has a long and successful history in the fight for First Amendment rights for federal workers.
This case,... Read more ...
03/15/2007
3/12/07: NTEU is urging the Senate to promptly confirm the reappointment of Carol Waller Pope to the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), which has had one of its three seats open since her term expired last December. NTEU President Colleen Kelley, who expressed NTEU's strong support for Ms. Pope's reappointment in January, welcomed White House action to make this appointment to another term on the FLRA. "I call on the Senate to act promptly on her confirmation," she stated, "the vital role of the FLRA is too important to leave seats open for any period of time."
NTEU's position was... Read more ...
NTEU's position was... Read more ...
03/09/2007
3/9/07: Yesterday, NTEU President Colleen Kelley submitted a statement for the record to the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for its hearing on federal personnel reform issues. Click here to review the statement she submitted.
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a number of nonmanagement and nonunion witnesses in its ongoing review of proposed new personnel systems, including market-sensitive pay and pay-for-performance demonstration programs in the federal government. While a few witnesses argued in favor of so-called performance... Read more ...
The Subcommittee heard testimony from a number of nonmanagement and nonunion witnesses in its ongoing review of proposed new personnel systems, including market-sensitive pay and pay-for-performance demonstration programs in the federal government. While a few witnesses argued in favor of so-called performance... Read more ...