Support HR 5573 - Unused Sick Time for Federal Employees

Friday, June 20, 2008 - Position:  Currently, federal employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) get no credit for unused sick time upon retirement. However, federal workers under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) do get credit for unused sick time. This discrepancy is unfair to some federal workers and it causes an incentive for FERS workers to use up their sick time as retirement approaches, costing the government millions of dollars in lost efficiency. Congress should address this growing problem by passing HR 5573, a bill that would grant FERS retirees a one-time payment of 15 percent of the hourly rate of their final salary for any sick leave balance of more than 500 hours, up to $10,000.

Privatization of Federal Jobs

Friday, June 27, 2008 - Position:  The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) privatization effort is not about making federal services more efficient; rather, it is designed to replace hundreds of thousands of federal employees with contractors. OMB is still forcing agencies to use privatization quotas, the A-76 process remains extremely pro-contractor, and OMB justifies its unprecedented wholesale privatization effort with unsubstantiated savings claims. We encourage Congress to adopt rules that will level the playing field for all federal workers in A-76 competitions, and where appropriate, eliminate competitive sourcing altogether.

Support HR 4089/S2824 - Collective Bargaining for VA Nurses and Doctors

Friday, June 20, 2008 - Position:  Over the last several years, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) healthcare professionals have seen their collective bargaining rights practically eliminated. Agency management’s improperly broad interpretation of a certain provision in federal labor law has allowed them to circumvent the bargaining process on numerous critical issues, and the effect is taking its toll on the morale of VA health care providers. It is time for Congress to do what is right for VA workers and the veterans for whom they provide care by passing HR 4089/S 2824, which will eliminate the collective bargaining exceptions under Sec. 7422 of Title 38.

Appeals Court Rules Against Defense Workers

May 22, 2007 - In a 2-to-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled last week that the Department of Defense (DoD) has the right to “curtail” collective bargaining rights for more than 400,000 federal employees for the next two years.

Tell Congress to Repeal NSPS

April 19, 2007 - The National Security Personnel System (NSPS) is a lingering remnant of former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and his failed policies.   For more than three years, the Department of Defense (DoD) has attempted to misuse the authority granted to them by Congress to create a contemporary human resources management system.  DoD has instead used this opportunity to conceive a plan that is clearly aimed primarily at eliminating federal sector unions.

Donald Runsfeld's NSPS: A Costly and Unnecessary Reform

April 19, 2007 - In 2003, under the guise of national security, Congress granted the Department of Defense (DoD) the authority to establish a new human resources system and to modify certain labor relations provisions under what was called the National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

Suspend Funding for Forest Service Privatization

April 16, 2007 - The administration’s scheme to privatize social security may be dead, but the wholesale privatization of government work continues. 

Agency At Risk: Competitive Sourcing of the Forest Service

April 5, 2007 - The administration’s “competitive” sourcing initiative is having devastating effects on the Forest Service (FS).  Extraordinary time and resources are being diverted from mission work to perform competitive sourcing and related activities.

NFFE-IAM Mourns Fallen Firefighters

October 31, 2006 - Four Forest Service workers died last Thursday while fighting a fire in the San Bernardino National Forest in California. Killed were Mark Loutzenhiser, 44, the Engine Captain, and three members of NFFE-IAM Local 1558; Jason McKay, 27; Jess McLean, 27; and Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20. A fourth NFFE-IAM member, Pablo Cerda, 23, remains in critical condition.

NFFE-IAM Kicks Off Oklahoma Organizing Campaign

October 10, 2006 - Local 273 NFFE-IAM, Federal District 1, members at Fort Sill, Oklahoma are gearing up for a base organizing drive to let fellow federal workers know the benefits of being a NFFE-IAM member.

Forest Service Officers to Receive Back Pay

October 5, 2006 - Thanks to the diligence of the NFFE-IAM Forest Service Council and its Law Enforcement and Investigations (LEI) Committee, non-exempt Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs) will now receive paid meal breaks.

Bush Administration Strikes Out on NSPS

September 28, 2006 - The Bush administration struck out swinging at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Defense (DoD) on its attempt to implement sweeping new personnel rules in a blatant attempt to gut collective bargaining rights and strip civil service protections for hundreds of thousands of federal workers.

Pentagon Ponders NSPS Delay

September 26, 2006 - Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England said last week the Pentagon may ask Congress to extend a critical 2009 deadline involving the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), the controversial labor relations system that would severely limit collective bargaining rights for more than 600,000 civilian employees.

Unions Win Big Victory for Federal Workers

June 22, 2006 - Civilian workers in the Defense Department facing the Bush administration’s relentless campaign to cut pay, benefits and collective bargaining rights can thank their unions for successfully lobbying Congress for an amendment to block anti-worker elements in the National Security Personnel System (NSPS).

Federal Workers Win Key NSPS Ruling

February 28, 2006 - In a major victory for federal workers and unions everywhere, a federal judge in Washington yesterday blocked the Bush administration’s attempt to eviscerate collective bargaining rights for 700,000 civilian Defense Department employees.

Enrollment for Federal Employee Program Extended

JANUARY 26, 2006 - The deadline for enrollment in the March 19-24 class of the Federal Employee Training Program at the William W. Winpisinger has been extended to February 3, 2006.

Urgent Notice About Improper National Security Personnel System Meetings