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.

DAMAGES POSSIBLE FOR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IN FLSA RETALIATION CASES? Let’s assume that you filed a grievance claiming two hours of overtime pay for the time a manager had you stay a “little late” during the pay period to get some … Continue reading

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CREATIVE SOLUTION FOR HIGHER GRADED DUTY GRIEVANCE It is one thing to have a great contract provision backing you up. In this case, the AFGE-DVA contract covering Pharmacy Technicians in Richmond, VA required temporary promotions for those who performed higher … Continue reading

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MSPB TWEAKS ADVERSE ACTION DUE PROCESS CONCEPT The agency indefinitely suspended an employee for losing his security clearance, and on appeal MSPB used the case to tweak it concept of due process protections in an adverse action. That makes it … Continue reading

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WHAT IS ASSOCIATIONAL RACE DISCRIMINATION? Is it illegal to discriminate against a person based on the race or nationality of their spouse or significant other? The attorneys at Fox Rothschild posted a short piece on what the courts have said … Continue reading

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BEWARE THE RETROACTIVE CONTRACT CLAUSE It does not happen often, but every few years we hear about an interest arbitrator or fact-finder imposing a contract clause that has retroactive effect. For example, suppose the parties went to the FSIP in … Continue reading

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

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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REMEMBER THIS AFGE AWOL DECISION One of the reasons we activated Fedsmill was to overcome the disadvantage regional and local union leaders are at when they have no way to hear about case victories from other unions.  That hobbles them … Continue reading

Posted in Discipline/Adverse Action | Tagged | 1 Comment

NFFE STEPS UP ITS CONCERN FOR OPEN UNION GOVERNANCE You have to admire a national union leadership that not only supports increased openness in how the organization is run, but also is confident enough to open the debate to all … Continue reading

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FEDSMILL IS LOOKING FOR RESTRUCTURING IDEAS Leadership of all the federal agencies that so deeply impact federal employee lives is about the change radically, bringing with it new challenges for some and opportunities for others. We want to get ready … Continue reading

Posted in Fedsmill | Tagged | 2 Comments

HARVARD OFFERS INSIGHT ON WHY SOME MANAGERS ARE DOMINATORS The on-line Harvard Business Review just posted a piece entitled, “Good Bosses Switch Between Two Leadership Styles.” The two styles are managing by dominating subordinates versus inspiring through the prestige of … Continue reading

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