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.

PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEE INTERVIEW CHECKLIST If a probationary employee comes to the union for help because he/she is about to be or has been terminated, the union should go over the following issues with the employee to see if there are … Continue reading

Posted in FLRA, Grievance/Arbitration, MSPB, Probation Period | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

AN OPEN LETTER TO PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES Below is a letter you should copy and send to all probationary employees to undermine those who tell them that they have no rights.

Posted in Discipline/Adverse Action, Membership Building, Probation Period, Union Rights | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

QUESTION: WHEN IS A PIP A ULP?  ANSWER: Almost always.

Posted in Bargaining, MSPB, Performance, ULPs | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

20+ FLRA PRECEDENTS UNION NEGOTIATORS MUST KNOW (Complete) Collective bargaining is like a tennis match.  The two players repeatedly fire the ball at one another hoping to force a mistake, get an advantage, or just tire the other out.  Furthermore, … Continue reading

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GETTING MORE WORK?  THE UNION CAN HELP MEMBERS ALERT!   With retirements, buyouts, and budget cuts just around the corner, don’t forget what the union can do for you when some manager assigns you more work, new duties, or reduces the … Continue reading

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EXCLUDING UNION REPS FROM CHOICE ASSIGNMENTS Almost every job has those few assignments that carry a lot of hidden benefits, e.g., they almost always earn those assigned a cash award, generate extra promotion points, or even almost automatically boost one’s … Continue reading

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APPRAISALS BASED ON MERE SAMPLES OF WORK One of the more notorious games of an unfair supervisor is manipulating the work selected to review for a performance appraisal.  Those supervisors can set an employee up for great success or heartbreaking … Continue reading

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AFGE HAS A VERY NICE SECRET AFGE membership has grown by 40% since 2003, which puts its growth curve  way, way ahead of all the other federal sector unions.  NTEU increased by only 11% during the same time, NATCA and … Continue reading

Posted in Membership Building | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

RELIGIOUS REFUSALS TO DO WORK QUESTION: When can an employee demand that he or she not be required to perform certain tasks?  ANSWER: When performance of the work conflicts with the employee’s religious convictions and it is reasonable for the … Continue reading

Posted in EEO/Religion, Employee Rights, Performance | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

BARGAINING OVER KITCHEN FACILITIES The Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (CBCA) posted a recent decision that should be copied into whatever file the union’s negotiators keep to prepare for the next round of bargaining.  In the Matter of Harry John … Continue reading

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