POPA & NTEU LOWER EMPLOYEE PARKING COSTS

Agencies are no longer regularly including free parking for employees in the buildings they rent.  They save money by shifting the cost of daily parking to the employee.  But here is how the union can help the employee.

The tax code permits employers, including federal agencies, to establish programs where employees pay their parking costs with pre-tax dollars.  In other words, the employee avoids paying tax on the money spent on parking. 

POPA and NTEU just negotiated a very good program covering the employees they represent at the Patent and Trademark offices.  Take a look at their agreement, and consider proposing the same thing if you have employees who have to pay their own parking expenses.  Remember, you do not have to wait for the master agreement to open to propose such a program.  Unions have just as much right to propose changes as the employer does during the life of a master or term agreement so long as the subject of the change is not “covered by” or “waived by” a current agreement