Author Archives: AdminUN

About AdminUN

FEDSMILL staff has over 40 years of federal sector labor relations experience on the union as well as management side of the table and even some time as a neutral.

SEPARATE BUT EQUAL PERFORMANCE AWARD SYSTEMS In a country that knows more than a little bit about the vicious fallacy of a “separate but equal” approach to treating people, one would think there would be little tolerance for it in … Continue reading

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THE COST OF UNDERFUNDING GOVERNMENT While whining about the cost of government has become an obsession for some, this summer provided several examples of what happens when Americans do underfund their society. This week The Today Show focused on how … Continue reading

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HOW TO AVOID EXCESSIVELY LONG TRAVEL DAYS Here are the facts as recently described by the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA), which rules on travel expense disputes for those employees who cannot file a contract grievance to settle them.  “Claimant … Continue reading

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NAMING GRIEVANTS: A SOURCE OF UNION POWER  Two members come to you, the union steward, complaining that the manager is no longer following the agreement’s provision about how to distribute overtime and they want to grieve.  After they leave, you … Continue reading

Posted in Grievance/Arbitration | Tagged | 1 Comment

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Two employees walk into the union office and tell you that their new manager changed the rules for when employees get charged AWOL and disciplined.  In the past, employees could arrive as late as seven (7) … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining, Discipline/Adverse Action, Past Practice | Tagged | Leave a comment

CONGRATS AFGE COUNCIL 214 We just ran across your web site and you deserve to be complimented for what you offer.  Aside from a reader-friendly choice of colors, a menu bar that attracts the reader’s eye, and revolving pictures of the … Continue reading

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TIME TO REST We just put out our 300th postings and consider this as good a time to rest as any.  See you after Labor Day.

Posted in Union Rights | Tagged | Leave a comment

PITY POOR ALJ SHAPIRO The Social Security Administration fired one of its administrative law judges, Mark Shapiro, for failing to produce at least 500 decisions a year.  (The preferred target is 700.)  That is two a day if he only … Continue reading

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HOW TO LOSE MILLIONS FOR MEMBERS Recently, an agency served notice on each of the two unions that represent its employees that it plans to cut the funding of its awards program nearly in half. It currently distributes annually an … Continue reading

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NTEU BREAKS OVERTIME RESTRAINTS ON FORMER AFGE MEMBERS Decades ago the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) issued a proclamation stating that he was taking away the right of INS employees to two consecutive days off a workweek and … Continue reading

Posted in Arbitration, Back Pay | Tagged | Leave a comment