AFGE is keeping you informed
See the article Think Twice First Campaign Article on the Current News
Mid Year Performance Discussions are coming!!!
See flyer on Current News tab...here
Annual Union Meeting
June 26 & 27, 2009
Beautiful Pigeon Forge Tennessee!
When making reservations mention the AFGE meeting for discount.
Hampton Inn & Suites
2025 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Telephone 865-428-1600
FERS Employees to Get Credit for Unused Sick Leave:
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) scored another victory when the House last week passed a bill that would allow federal employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to get paid for their unused sick leave. Unlike those in the older Civil Service Retirement System, FERS employees currently do not receive credit for their unused sick leave in their pension calculations. Under the bill, the FERS employees who retire within the first three years of the enactment of the bill would get credit for 75 percent of their unused sick leave. Those retiring later would get credit for all unused sick leave.
The bill would also automatically enroll new federal employees in the Thrift Savings Plan. Currently, new employees have to enroll in the TSP, but many of them find the explanations about the TSP during their employee orientations confusing and decide not to enroll, inadvertently losing out on the agency matches to their contributions, including the one percent of salary that agencies are required to provide to all FERS employees with a TSP account.
AFGE Local 3377 Wins a Series of Arbitration Cases:
AFGE Local 3377 in Texas recently won four arbitration cases that resulted in reinstatement of two employees who had been wrongfully terminated, a retroactive promotion for an employee whose promotion had been improperly delayed, and reinstatement of the telework program for eligible employees. The delayed promotion and telework arbitrations are precedential and may have agency wide implications. The local also settled two arbitration cases, which resulted in an issuance of a Letter of Reprimand in lieu of a 14-day suspension and a removal of an employee's suspension from his personnel record.
The employees involved in the cases work for the Citizenship and Immigration Service, Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Over the past week, the local has received a number of reports that individual offices in Region 4 have been altering flexiplace plans. Some offices are reducing the number of days an employee can participate, as compared to past flexiplace periods, and others have indicated that agency-issued laptops will be required, and only a limited number of laptops will be provided.
If your office has been impacted by these, or other, changes please advise your state vice president or other officer in your local.
On the Council 215 Conference Call on March 12, 2007, Council President Marshall noted that Region 1 (the Boston Region), was limiting flexiplace because of DSI. A grievance had been filed by the Local in that region. See the Council page for more news.
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRESIDENT
On the Council 215 conference call, President James Marshall noted that the General Council had been briefed on the budget situation. SSA had received enough to avoid furloughs, but there would be a near total freeze on hiring except for high priority jobs. There will be some overtime available, but not as much as in past years.
Mr. Astrue, the new Commissioner of SSA, has indicated he will meet with President Marshall, and he wants to create a better working environment with the Union.
The Council has requested bargaing on contining legal education for attorneys. The Union has not received a response at this time. An arbitrator has been assigned for the performance plan grievance. A discussion of the new appraisal system revealed that in some offices paralegals are being required to pull cases, answer telephones, or distribute mail, but they are not being allowed down time for those duties. If other duties are assigned, the employee's supervisor should explain ow doing those other duties will impact the employee's evaluations.
The call also revealed that some offices are assigning more difficult cases to the flexiplace workers.
The Annual meeting will be held in Pigeon Forge TN in June 2009. More information will be coming.
Carl Warren |
