For far too long IG Investigators have been able to ignore virtually every union negotiated protection against unfair, intimidating, underhanded investigatory interviews of employees. But FLRA just changed that in with NTEU and Customs & Border Protection decisions. (See NTEU and CBP, 66 FLRA 904 (2012)) Continue reading
We like to recognize the really good local union web sites. Our hope is that highlighting the really good ones will give us all a little extra energy to improve what we have. Union web sites are still in their infancy. As a group, we do not seem to yet have a clear idea of what to do with them. Do we just store information for members or give non-members more than a glimpse at the home page to boost their willingness to join? Do we push information at unit employees by e-mailing them alerts of new stories or just service them when they decide to look at our web sites? Do we want unit employees to use it to communicate with union leaders and one another, or is it just a one-way communication from us to them? Even when we know the answers to those questions, often we do not know how to make the site very user-friendly. So, as with most FEDSMILL posts we hope this gives you some ideas. Continue reading
Unions reps have a right to be invited to an EEO investigator’s interview of unit employees. FLRA considers these interviews, even if done one person at a time, to be formal discussions solong as the employee has moved beyond an EEO charge and filed a formal complaint. Continue reading
Congratulations to J. David Cox who just moved up from AFGE Secretary-Treasurer to National President this week after a four-person election at their Vegas convention. If you have any doubts about how active of a leader he is going to be, take a look at the AFGE web site. Cox changed it overnight. The new site is attractive and highly useful. The home page is not cluttered, the menu bar provides automatic drop down pages without the reader having to click, and it even offers outsiders helpful information. Our favorite feature might be the very easy-to-access news that is organized by major agency under the Agency menu. Within seconds, a reader from these departments can see items of the greatest interest to their agency. Continue reading
MSPB pleasantly surprised us recently with a decision in Reid v. Dept. of Navy, 2012 MSPB 94(2012) that lays out how to get harsh penalties for falsification mitigated down to a reprimand. Continue reading
Max Stier is the President of the Partnership for Public Service (PPS), an alleged think-tank that claims to be interested in improving government. Max and his Partnership posse just issued a widely-touted report entitled, “Bracing for Change,” in which they recommended dumping the GS salary system for some unspecified new system. While they are entitled to their opinion, their policy-analysis report is a reckless, unprofessional, whine that could hurt over a million federal employees. It should be withdrawn with a public apology. Continue reading
With a new Presidential term about to begin, the scavengers are circling Washington, D.C. hoping to feast grandly at the expense of the federal treasury and federal employees. In a synchronized attack worthy of Seal Team 6, allegedly neutral non-profits, profit-driven beltway consultants, and many soon-to-retire federal executives are slamming the GS salary system. Their goal is not only to have it declared a public nuisance, but more importantly replaced with a product and process that will earn them millions. Little or no concern will be shown for the harm their plan will cause government or how much it will cost employees. Continue reading