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.

COURT HAMMERS TOP ARBITRATOR; SETS NEW ARBITRATION STANDARDS Joseph Sharnoff is one of the top labor arbitrators in the country, but that meant nothing to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals when it reviewed his decision in an adverse action … Continue reading

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EEOC GRANTS $75,000 FOR WORKPLACE FOOD ALLERGIES HARASSMENT The employee worked in a large, open-space area surrounded by dozens of other employees when she developed allergies to spicy foods, e.g. pepper, Szechuan peppercorn, ginger, especially those made with oils. She … Continue reading

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YES, VIRGINIA, COVID 19 CAN BE A DISABILITY If you are representing a member looking for more flexibility to deal with COVID problems than the agency is allowing, check out this post with the same title as this post from … Continue reading

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PROVING PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL DISCRIMINATION Want to boost your chances of winning a performance appraisal grievance? Check out Maria D. v. Merrick B. Garland, Attorney General, DoJ (FBP), EEOC No. 2021001182 (2021) Maria could have settled for filing a grievance simply … Continue reading

Posted in EEO/Discrimination, Performance | Tagged | Leave a comment

IMPASSE CRACKERS What’s an impasse cracker?  It is one of those tactics seasoned negotiators pull out when bargaining seems hopelessly deadlocked to create an agreement.  FEDSMILL.com has listed some of our favorites for you to consider and use.

Posted in Bargaining, FSIP, Impasse | Tagged | Leave a comment

“IT’S ALIVE!”  NOT FRANKENSTEIN’S MONSTER, BUT FSIP After months of deconstructing the existing hideous monster that plundered the L-M communities far and wide, President Biden has finished scouring the countryside for new parts, stitched them together, and sent his own … Continue reading

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IS YOUR NATIONAL UNION REP A TYPE A OR TYPE J REP? Among the things you notice over a 40-year career working with unions is that not all national union reps are the same. In fact, they can differ greatly … Continue reading

Posted in Union Administration | Tagged | 1 Comment

FLRA ADDRESSES HOW SPECIFIC A GRIEVANCE MUST BE TO SURVIVE Not long ago FEDSMILL posted a piece entitled, “Grievance Strategy Issues- Part 4” which examined how specific a grievance must be to avoid several traps that can destroy an otherwise … Continue reading

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HOW TO STOP PERFORMANCE STANDARD CHANGES While death and taxes may be the more commonly recognized guarantees of life, not far behind are changes in performance standards.  Employees everywhere can count on managers trying to change their expectations, even if … Continue reading

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UNION REP TEST #17 (Drafting Midterm Change Proposals) One of the very best things a union can do for employees is to stop implementation of an agency proposed change in working conditions until the union has fully explored the proposed … Continue reading

Posted in Bargaining Proposals, Union Rep Test | Tagged | Leave a comment