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.

Posted on December 14, 2011 by AdminUN

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

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

Posted on December 14, 2011 by AdminUN

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 →

Posted in Bargaining Law, FLRA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on December 12, 2011 by AdminUN

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 →

Posted in Bargaining, FLRA, Membership Building, Performance, ULPs | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on December 11, 2011 by AdminUN

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 →

Posted in FLRA, Union Rights | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on December 11, 2011 by AdminUN

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 →

Posted in Discipline/Adverse Action, Membership Building, Performance | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on December 4, 2011 by AdminUN

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

Posted on December 4, 2011 by AdminUN

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

Posted on December 4, 2011 by AdminUN

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 →

Posted in Bargaining, Regulations, Travel/Per Diem | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Posted on November 29, 2011 by AdminUN

IRS PROBATIONER’S REINSTATEMENT A LESSON FOR ALL STEWARD ALERT!     Managers constantly tell probationary employees they have no appeal rights if terminated, but that is just not true.  FEDSMILL.com is working on a longer article about probationary employee appeal rights, but here … Continue reading →

Posted in EEO/Discrimination, Probation Period | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Posted on November 29, 2011 by AdminUN

AGENCY CAN BE ORDERED TO PAY EMPLOYEE INCOME TAXES STEWARD ALERT!     When the employer is ordered to give an employee a back pay lump sum amount, it can also be required to compensate the employee for any extra income taxes … Continue reading →

Posted in EEO/Remedies, Remedies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment