Union News Archive
04/17/2013
4/17/13: On Monday, legislation requiring the federal government to fire federal employees if they have a tax debt failed to garner the necessary number of votes for passage in the House of Representatives. The legislation, H.R. 249, the “Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2013,” was considered on the Suspension Calendar, which requires a two-thirds majority vote of the members present for passage. The final vote was 250-159, thus falling short of the necessary votes needed. House rejection of H.R. 249 is a reversal from the previous Congress, which approved identical legislation... Read more ...
04/15/2013
4/15/13: On Friday, NTEU Chapter 293 filed a national grievance against the SEC over its refusal to implement retroactive transit benefits, as well as the agency’s refusal to bargain over the issue -- despite the fact that other agencies, such as the FDIC, have already provided the benefits to their employees.
A few months ago, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), which amended the law governing qualified transportation fringe benefits. Specifically, it amended the amount of the transportation subsidy that may be provided to an employee by an employer and which... Read more ...
A few months ago, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), which amended the law governing qualified transportation fringe benefits. Specifically, it amended the amount of the transportation subsidy that may be provided to an employee by an employer and which... Read more ...
04/15/2013
4/15/13: The Union today served bargaining proposals to SEC management regarding the SEC’s unilateral decision to cease all reassignments of Grade SK-13 Compliance Examiners to Grade SK-14 Staff Accountant positions.
A few weeks ago, without prior notification to SEC employees' Union representatives and apparently without consultation with OCIE management, the Office of Human Resources sent this notification to SEC managers informing them that the agency’s past practice of reassigning Grade SK-13 Compliance Examiners to a Grade SK-14 Staff Accountant positions would be discontinued... Read more ...
A few weeks ago, without prior notification to SEC employees' Union representatives and apparently without consultation with OCIE management, the Office of Human Resources sent this notification to SEC managers informing them that the agency’s past practice of reassigning Grade SK-13 Compliance Examiners to a Grade SK-14 Staff Accountant positions would be discontinued... Read more ...
04/09/2013
4/9/13: Next week the House is scheduled to consider H.R. 249, the “Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act of 2013,” which requires the federal government to fire federal employees if they have a tax debt.
In advance of House consideration, NTEU has sent this attached letter to every representative detailing our opposition to the legislation. In our letter, we note that requiring federal employees who are already facing a potential three-year pay freeze and unpaid furloughs, to immediately pay back taxes or be terminated, while exempting members of Congress, is unfair, and may ultimately... Read more ...
In advance of House consideration, NTEU has sent this attached letter to every representative detailing our opposition to the legislation. In our letter, we note that requiring federal employees who are already facing a potential three-year pay freeze and unpaid furloughs, to immediately pay back taxes or be terminated, while exempting members of Congress, is unfair, and may ultimately... Read more ...
03/05/2013
3/5/13: Today NTEU sent this letter to every member of the House of Representatives opposing H.R. 933, an FY 2013 Continuing Resolution (CR) introduced yesterday by the House leadership that would freeze agency funding at FY 2012 levels, maintain the devastating cuts mandated by sequestration that went into effect on March 1, and extend the pay freeze on federal employees through the end of 2013. The House is scheduled to vote on the bill as early as this Thursday.
In our letter, we noted that freezing agency funding for most agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year at roughly their FY... Read more ...
In our letter, we noted that freezing agency funding for most agencies for the remainder of the fiscal year at roughly their FY... Read more ...
02/12/2013
2/12/13: The union has received a lot of questions about telework when a storm occurs. Here are some answers...
Q: I have a recurring telework agreement and I was scheduled to telework on a day when my office was closed for all or part of the day due to a storm. Am I required to telework as usual?
A: Yes. Generally, if you were scheduled to telework you should telework as usual.
Q: What if I was scheduled to telework when my office was closed, but I was unable to do so due to a power outage or some other problem related to the storm? Do I still have to telework?
A: No. You should... Read more ...
Q: I have a recurring telework agreement and I was scheduled to telework on a day when my office was closed for all or part of the day due to a storm. Am I required to telework as usual?
A: Yes. Generally, if you were scheduled to telework you should telework as usual.
Q: What if I was scheduled to telework when my office was closed, but I was unable to do so due to a power outage or some other problem related to the storm? Do I still have to telework?
A: No. You should... Read more ...
02/11/2013
2/12/13: This week the SEC released these FY 2012 performance management system results. The numbers reveal a sharp disparity between how SEC managers rate their own performance versus how they rate the performance of their subordinates. The union has fielded a number of inquiries from staff across the nation about this odd and unexpected trend. In a credible system, achieving a particular rating should be no more difficult for one group of employees as compared to any other. However, the SEC's own data suggests that under its so-called "evidence based" performance management system, this is... Read more ...
02/11/2013
2/12/13: In the past few weeks, the union and management Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiating teams met with a mediator to attempt to resolve the remaining differences over a new labor contract at the agency. Unfortunately, after several days of mediated negotiating sessions, the parties were unable to reach agreement on any of the remaining articles subject to negotiation. All of these issues will now have to be resolved by the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP). The parties will submit briefs in the coming weeks, the mediator will draft a report, and the matter will be... Read more ...
01/15/2013
1/15/13: Today the House rejected an amendment offered by Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) to the Hurricane Sandy Relief bill (H.R. 152) that would have offset the cost of the bill by instituting an across the board 1.63% spending cut to federal agencies, including those represented by NTEU.
NTEU strongly opposed this amendment and in advance of House action today, NTEU sent this letter to every member of the House detailing the adverse impact that further funding reductions to NTEU represented agencies would have, and urging them to reject it.
NTEU was happy to see that the House rejected this... Read more ...
NTEU strongly opposed this amendment and in advance of House action today, NTEU sent this letter to every member of the House detailing the adverse impact that further funding reductions to NTEU represented agencies would have, and urging them to reject it.
NTEU was happy to see that the House rejected this... Read more ...
01/09/2013
1/9/13: Effective January 1, 2013, GSA has increased the gas mileage reimbursement rate for federal employees to 56.5 cents.
NTEU has been continually working to obtain a fair and accurate mileage deduction for business-related travel. Last April we were able to convince the General Services Administration (GSA) to account for rising fuel prices by raising the rate from 51¢ to 55.5¢ a mile. This mid-year adjustment was unusual, but NTEU believed it was needed. Federal employees should not be under-reimbursed for their government travel at any time, but especially now when they continue... Read more ...
NTEU has been continually working to obtain a fair and accurate mileage deduction for business-related travel. Last April we were able to convince the General Services Administration (GSA) to account for rising fuel prices by raising the rate from 51¢ to 55.5¢ a mile. This mid-year adjustment was unusual, but NTEU believed it was needed. Federal employees should not be under-reimbursed for their government travel at any time, but especially now when they continue... Read more ...
01/07/2013
1/7/13: The Union has notified the SEC's Office of Human Resources that SEC employees expect the transit subsidy to be increased to the new maximum level of $240 per month, in accordance with new legislation passed by Congress in connection with the Fiscal Cliff negotiations, and as is required under the terms of our collective bargaining agreement.
The CBA provides that the SEC will pass on to its employees any increase in public transit benefits or reopen the agreement for further negotiations. NTEU is prepared to deal with further negotiations if necessary, but the SEC should do the right... Read more ...
The CBA provides that the SEC will pass on to its employees any increase in public transit benefits or reopen the agreement for further negotiations. NTEU is prepared to deal with further negotiations if necessary, but the SEC should do the right... Read more ...
01/02/2013
1/2/13: Yesterday, the House of Representatives took up legislation extending the pay freeze for federal employees and members of Congress through the end of 2013. H.R.6726 was considered on the House suspension calendar and could not be amended. The bill passed the House by a vote of 287 to 129 but will not be considered by the Senate.
The bill’s supporters in the House wanted to make sure they were on record opposing a pay increase for members of Congress in 2013. It is disappointing, however, that the bill’s authors decided to include an extended pay freeze for rank and file federal... Read more ...
The bill’s supporters in the House wanted to make sure they were on record opposing a pay increase for members of Congress in 2013. It is disappointing, however, that the bill’s authors decided to include an extended pay freeze for rank and file federal... Read more ...
01/02/2013
1/2/13: The fiscal cliff deal approved by both the House and Senate includes NTEU-supported language that would reinstate parity between the transit and parking portions of the commuter benefit through 2013 and make it retroactive to January 1, 2012.
As you know, in 2010, as part of the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010,” Congress included a provision that kept the mass transit portion of the commuter benefit at $230 per month for 2011, preventing a reduction to $125 per month, and keeping it equal to the parking tax benefit. Unfortunately,... Read more ...
As you know, in 2010, as part of the “Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010,” Congress included a provision that kept the mass transit portion of the commuter benefit at $230 per month for 2011, preventing a reduction to $125 per month, and keeping it equal to the parking tax benefit. Unfortunately,... Read more ...
12/21/2012
12/21/12: As the year closes, please remember to donate your "use or lose" leave to the Leave Bank, where it can be put to good use providing leave to your co-workers who have exhausted their own sick leave due to illness or medical emergency. All you need to do is send an email to Jack Waller in OHR, at wallerj@sec.gov, and tell him that you want to automatically donate any use or lose leave that you would otherwise forfeit. Thanks for your generosity.
12/21/2012
12/21/12: NTEU and the SEC this week reached agreement on a pay increase. All bargaining unit employees who receive an "acceptable" rating will receive a 2% merit increase in the second pay period in January, beginning on January 13, 2013. Furthermore, once the SEC learns its final funding level for FY 2013, NTEU and management have agreed to continue further discussions regarding possibly increasing this amount by up to an additional 1.5%. We will automatically receive an additional 1.5% if the SEC receives the full funding that it requested for FY 2013.
Importantly, the SEC has agreed to... Read more ...
Importantly, the SEC has agreed to... Read more ...
12/21/2012
12/21/12: President Obama issued an Executive Order today closing all executive departments and agencies on Monday, Christmas Eve. Please enjoy the holiday weekend with your family. If you have already put in for leave on Monday, you may simply change that day to a holiday on Quicktime. Here is the Executive Order.
12/13/2012
12/13/12: The SEC’s latest low score on the Partnership for Public Service “Best Places to Work” rankings, 19th out of 22 mid-sized agencies, is sobering news – but as the agency transitions to new leadership I am hopeful that our senior leaders will bring the same focus to our internal challenges as they have brought to the many external challenges the SEC has faced since 2008. The time is now for the SEC’s senior leadership to make a full commitment to address the human capital challenges reflected by the SEC’s now perennially low ranking. The path forward is clear –the SEC’s senior... Read more ...
12/12/2012
12/13/12: Today, the Partnership for Public Service (“PPS”), a nonpartisan organization dedicated to revitalizing the federal government by transforming the way government works, released its annual “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” rankings for 2012. The Union today posted internal SEC office rankings to assist employees in understanding how each office measures up in comparison to others across the country. Review the rankings below.
The PPS calls the Best Places to Work rankings the most comprehensive and authoritative rating and analysis of federal employee satisfaction and... Read more ...
The PPS calls the Best Places to Work rankings the most comprehensive and authoritative rating and analysis of federal employee satisfaction and... Read more ...
12/12/2012
Below are links to the 2012 FEVS reports from the Office of Personnel Management for the SEC and each of its offices and divisions:
2012 FEVS SEC-Wide Report
2012 FEVS Headquarters Division and Office Report
2012 FEVS Regional Offices Report
2012 FEVS Atlanta Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Boston Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Chicago Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Denver Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Fort Worth Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Los Angeles Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Miami Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS New York Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Philadelphia... Read more ...
2012 FEVS SEC-Wide Report
2012 FEVS Headquarters Division and Office Report
2012 FEVS Regional Offices Report
2012 FEVS Atlanta Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Boston Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Chicago Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Denver Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Fort Worth Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Los Angeles Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Miami Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS New York Regional Office Report
2012 FEVS Philadelphia... Read more ...
12/10/2012
12/10/12: Automatic spending cuts, known as sequestration, which could go into effect on January 2, 2013, if Congress and the White House do not agree on a way to prevent them, would not have the same impact as a government shutdown due to lack of appropriations. When there is an appropriations lapse, agencies, with limited exceptions, are prohibited from spending money, so nonessential employees are directed not to report for work and whether they receive back pay for days missed turns on whether Congress passes specific legislation to compensate them.
Under sequestration, by contrast,... Read more ...
Under sequestration, by contrast,... Read more ...
12/03/2012
12/3/12: Please contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign -- there are only 12 days to go. As I am sure you know, it is in times like these that donations to charity can really make a difference. Consider how very fortunate all of us are at the SEC this year. Despite the salary freeze and continuing attacks upon federal employees, we all have steady, secure, good paying jobs in the public sector.
This is obviously not the case for everyone in many communities across the country. With the markets in turmoil and continuing economic uncertainty, charities are having a tougher and tougher time... Read more ...
This is obviously not the case for everyone in many communities across the country. With the markets in turmoil and continuing economic uncertainty, charities are having a tougher and tougher time... Read more ...
12/03/2012
12/3/12: As you know, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently released the results of its 2012 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) which is a tool that measures employee satisfaction and employee perceptions of whether, and to what extent, conditions characterizing successful organizations are present in the agencies surveyed. The FEVS surveyed perceptions in four key areas identified by OPM as important to measuring an organization’s success: (1) leadership and knowledge, (2) results-oriented performance culture (3) talent management and (4) job satisfaction.
As Chapter... Read more ...
As Chapter... Read more ...
11/27/2012
11/27/12: A group of supportive Members of Congress and the Federal-Postal Coalition urge no further cuts to the federal workforce. Members of Congress have sent this letter to Congressional Leadership and this letter President Obama, pointing out that federal employees have already contributed more than $100 billion toward deficit reduction, and they should not be targeted for further cuts as negotiations to avoid the fiscal cliff continue.
In addition, NTEU, along with over 20 other members of the Federal-Postal Coalition has sent the attached letters to all Members of the House and Senate... Read more ...
In addition, NTEU, along with over 20 other members of the Federal-Postal Coalition has sent the attached letters to all Members of the House and Senate... Read more ...
11/08/2012
11/8/12: NTEU will match—dollar for dollar—money donated to a special fund that provides emergency assistance to federal employees of NTEU-represented agencies impacted by megastorm Sandy, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley announced today.
“Though more than a week has passed, many federal workers are still coping with the devastation caused by hurricane-turned-megastorm Sandy and are facing a lengthy road to rebuilding and recovery,” said Kelley. All donations made to the NTEU Fund at the Federal Employees Education and Assistance (FEEA) Fund will be doubled—up to $25,000.
“With tens of... Read more ...
“Though more than a week has passed, many federal workers are still coping with the devastation caused by hurricane-turned-megastorm Sandy and are facing a lengthy road to rebuilding and recovery,” said Kelley. All donations made to the NTEU Fund at the Federal Employees Education and Assistance (FEEA) Fund will be doubled—up to $25,000.
“With tens of... Read more ...
10/05/2012
Chapter 293 will hold its annual meeting for Union members on Tuesday, October 16, from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM, EDT. The meeting will occur at the Headquarters Main Auditorium in Washington, D.C., and it will be videocast to the regional offices. An interpreter for the hearing impaired will attend the meeting. In Washington, the meeting will be followed by a complementary barbecue lunch for members at 1:30 PM in the Multipurpose Room. HQ employees should RSVP by COB on October 9, 2012 to reidk@sec.gov if they would like to attend the barbecue. Regional office employees should speak with a... Read more ...