Category Archives: Attorney Fees

AGENCY ATTORNEY FEE ASSAULT SHIFTS INTO OVERDRIVE It is no secret that agencies are pushing harder than ever to reduce the costs of collective bargaining, and one of the most aggressive assaults is against a union rep’s right to get … Continue reading

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ATTORNEY FEE TURMOIL AHEAD? In NAGE and DOD, DLA, 69 FLRA 572 (2016) the Authority signaled that it is willing to reconsider the criteria for approving employee attorney fee petitions. Given the pre-disposition of the two Trump appointees, Kiko and Abbott, unions and … Continue reading

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AGENCY OPTIONS WHEN UNION LAWYERS LIE This is a hypothetical; any connection to facts you may know of is purely coincidental. We have a great deal of respect for most union leaders and generally wish them the best.  But every … Continue reading

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TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ATTORNEY FEE PETITIONS Yes, we admit that this is a pet peeve for us.  If even a few attorneys submit outlandish fee requests to EEOC, MSPB or arbitrators that will hand those already looking to screw over … Continue reading

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FLRA INVITES UNION ATTORNEYS TO EXPAND THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO FEES One of the sweeter benefits for unions is that they are often entitled to receive attorney fees when they win back pay for an employee. When unions win fees they … Continue reading

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IS THIS A VIOLATION OF LAW? Let’s just consider this a hypothetical. Suppose, one federal union allows it legal staff to keep any attorney fees they collect that exceed the attorney’s annual salary from the union. For example, if the … Continue reading

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WHO IS KILLING THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ GOLDEN GOOSE? {Corrected Version} [Hint: Shakespeare recognized them early as a threat and recommended their immediate execution.] There is a golden goose tucked away in the federal civil service law that entitles federal employees … Continue reading

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AFGE RESCUES ATTORNEY FEE CLAIM FROM ARBITRATOR ERROR Arbitrators are paid to make the final decision, but nothing guarantees that they make the right decision. In a new case out of FLRA, AFGE demonstrated its intimate knowledge of attorney fee … Continue reading

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LOLLAPALOOZA OF ATTORNEY FEE CASE See if you can guess in advance of what happened when an attorney agreed to the following conditions for his fee for representing a federal employee: (1) he promised her that his work on the … Continue reading

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NTEU TRIPS ITSELF UP ON CBP DISPUTE When Customs and Border Protection management decided to install new work stations for officers inspecting travelers, NTEU asked to bargain, and one of its demands was that officers be allowed to sit while … Continue reading

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