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 ...
Union News Archive
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 ...
10/01/2012
10/1/12: NTEU this week requested that the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) assert jurisdiction over the impasse in the negotiations between the Union and the SEC over a new collective bargaining agreement. After a year and half of negotiations, the SEC and the Union are at impasse over several substantive issues. The matter will likely be assigned to a member of the FSIP to assist with resolution of the remaining disputes.
This trip to the FSIP comes on the heels of the SEC's settlement of an unfair labor practices complaint lodged against it by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (... Read more ...
This trip to the FSIP comes on the heels of the SEC's settlement of an unfair labor practices complaint lodged against it by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (... Read more ...
09/25/2012
10/1/12: Chapter 293's Election Committee has certified the results of the 2012 chapter elections. The winners of the contested elections are as follows:
Executive Board Representatives, HQ Professional: Noel Gittens, Mickael Moore and Kevin Stertzel; and
Executive Board Representative, HQ At Large: Corey Jennings.
The results of the uncontested elections are as follows:
President: Greg Gilman;
Vice President: Patricia Copeland;
Secretary: April Keyes;
Treasurer: Dean Suehiro;
Executive Board Representative, ARO: John O'Halloran;
Executive Board Representative, BRO: Dan Barry;... Read more ...
Executive Board Representatives, HQ Professional: Noel Gittens, Mickael Moore and Kevin Stertzel; and
Executive Board Representative, HQ At Large: Corey Jennings.
The results of the uncontested elections are as follows:
President: Greg Gilman;
Vice President: Patricia Copeland;
Secretary: April Keyes;
Treasurer: Dean Suehiro;
Executive Board Representative, ARO: John O'Halloran;
Executive Board Representative, BRO: Dan Barry;... Read more ...
09/20/2012
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) released a report this week outlining the sequester, or automatic budget cuts, that will go into effect on January 2, 2013 pursuant to the Budget Control Act of 2011, unless Congress acts to cancel them. The budget cuts will total $109 billion for 2013, $54.6 billion from defense and $54.6 billion from nondefense. The percentage cuts will be 9.4% for defense discretionary accounts, 10% of defense mandatory accounts, 8.2% for domestic discretionary accounts and 7.6% for domestic mandatory accounts. While a small number of accounts will be exempt from... Read more ...
09/17/2012
August 3, 2012 emails
August 17, 2012 email from Lacey Dingman to management.
August 17, 2012 email from Lacey Dingman to management.
09/05/2012
A little over a year after giving the following special Labor Day message on September 5, 1960, President John F. Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988 granting collective bargaining rights to federal employees:
May I offer my congratulations to the members of organized labor on this 1960 Labor Day.
American labor has insisted upon, and won, the highest wages and best working conditions in the world. You have not been content to sit still and let well enough alone. You have shown that high living standards can be won within the context of freedom.
Yours has been a pragmatic movement basing... Read more ...
May I offer my congratulations to the members of organized labor on this 1960 Labor Day.
American labor has insisted upon, and won, the highest wages and best working conditions in the world. You have not been content to sit still and let well enough alone. You have shown that high living standards can be won within the context of freedom.
Yours has been a pragmatic movement basing... Read more ...
08/30/2012
9/5/12: In a decision last week, an independent federal arbitrator ruled that SEC management in the New York Regional Office ("NYRO") violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA") between the SEC and NTEU by reassigning a part-time Staff Accountant and mother of two to a full time schedule. The arbitrator ordered the agency to restore her prior part-time schedule.
The grievant in this case, Jacqueline Fine, is a Grade 14 Staff Accountant in the NYRO who worked for a number of years for the SEC on a half-time schedule. Ms. Fine took maternity leave a couple of years ago after the birth... Read more ...
The grievant in this case, Jacqueline Fine, is a Grade 14 Staff Accountant in the NYRO who worked for a number of years for the SEC on a half-time schedule. Ms. Fine took maternity leave a couple of years ago after the birth... Read more ...
08/23/2012
8/23/12: Last week, NTEU Chapter 293 filed a national grievance against the SEC seeking an order compelling the agency to stop its use of the numerical ratings from the FY 2011 pilot run of the so-called "evidence based" performance management system ("EBP"). The Union expects that it will be necessary to take this matter to arbitration.
Last year, as part of an agreement with the Union to permit the agency to move forward with a "pilot run" of the EBP system, the SEC agreed that it would not use the numerical ratings for any official purpose:
“The 5-level numerical ratings generated under... Read more ...
Last year, as part of an agreement with the Union to permit the agency to move forward with a "pilot run" of the EBP system, the SEC agreed that it would not use the numerical ratings for any official purpose:
“The 5-level numerical ratings generated under... Read more ...
08/22/2012
8/22/12: Yesterday, the White House issued its alternative pay plan which would implement a 0.5% pay raise for civilian federal employees in January 2013. However, the White House has asked Congress to delay the effective date of the raise until the expected CR expires, which is anticipated to be March 31, 2013.
It is disappointing that federal employees may have to wait until April 1, 2013, to see a pay raise. Congress is expected to pass a CR funding the government from October 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013, when it returns in early September. NTEU has successfully fought back efforts... Read more ...
It is disappointing that federal employees may have to wait until April 1, 2013, to see a pay raise. Congress is expected to pass a CR funding the government from October 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013, when it returns in early September. NTEU has successfully fought back efforts... Read more ...
08/21/2012
What Are “Performance Management” and “Pay for Performance” Systems and How Does the SEC Intend to Use Them?
“Performance management” and “pay for performance” (the latter sometimes referred to as “merit pay” at the SEC) are frequently used interchangeably. Although they are often linked, they are actually different. Performance management systems relate to how agencies develop, monitor, and rate employee performance as part of an overall effort to manage and measure agency performance. Pay for performance systems deliver performance-based raises and/or bonuses based on performance ratings... Read more ...
“Performance management” and “pay for performance” (the latter sometimes referred to as “merit pay” at the SEC) are frequently used interchangeably. Although they are often linked, they are actually different. Performance management systems relate to how agencies develop, monitor, and rate employee performance as part of an overall effort to manage and measure agency performance. Pay for performance systems deliver performance-based raises and/or bonuses based on performance ratings... Read more ...
08/21/2012
8/23/12: The last week of scheduled mediated negotiating sessions between the SEC and NTEU over the Collective Bargaining Agreement ("CBA") came to an end earlier this month. The SEC failed to come to agreement with the Union's bargaining team on several issues that are important to SEC employees. The parties will now take the negotiations to the Federal Service Impasses Panel to seek an order resolving the remaining disagreements between the parties.
The CBA negotiations have now been going on for sixteen months, and it will likely take months more to bring them to a conclusion. The original... Read more ...
The CBA negotiations have now been going on for sixteen months, and it will likely take months more to bring them to a conclusion. The original... Read more ...
08/21/2012
8/23/12: The recent independent survey of the SEC regarding the agency's new, so-called "evidence-based" performance management system ("EBP") clearly demonstrates what SEC employees have been talking about for the last couple of years around the water cooler: the new system is too complicated, time consuming, vague and subjective. Furthermore, the SEC's staff does not find it to be fair and credible, which is the foundation of any successful performance pay system. By a very large margin, SEC employees believe that this poorly designed system simply does not work. In fact, the data on the... Read more ...
08/14/2012
8/23/12: The results of an SEC employee survey about the SEC's so-called "evidence based" performance management system ("EBP") are in -- and the SEC received a failing grade.
Last year, the Union negotiated an agreement with the SEC concerning a second "pilot run" of the EBP for the 2011 rating year. As part of that agreement, the parties agreed that an independent expert would review the EBP, including by conducting a survey and focus groups at the agency, and report back to the SEC and the Union. By overwhelming numbers, SEC managers and staff reported that the proposed new system lacks... Read more ...
Last year, the Union negotiated an agreement with the SEC concerning a second "pilot run" of the EBP for the 2011 rating year. As part of that agreement, the parties agreed that an independent expert would review the EBP, including by conducting a survey and focus groups at the agency, and report back to the SEC and the Union. By overwhelming numbers, SEC managers and staff reported that the proposed new system lacks... Read more ...