FLRA’s Attempt to Gut Agency Head Review Goes to Court
The statutory right of an agency head to review an agreement before it is implemented has been eliminated by the FLRA. The case is now going to court.
Employee Relations
Government Cutbacks: Will Federal Unions Chip In?
Federal Agencies are facing major cutbacks in an effort to resolve debt and other problems. Federal sector unions are almost entirely funded in day-to-day operations by appropriated funds. The author asks whether some thought has been given to asking unions to voluntarily dig into their untouched dues collection funds to help out in these tough times.
Reorganizing Uncle Sam: Missing Out on Retiree Input?
It was recently announced that Jeffrey Zients, Deputy OMB Director was going to reorganize all of the Trade Agencies in three months. There is a Federal employee website to solicit input but no such vehicle for retirees or other stakeholders to provide their insights. So Fedsmith and the author have teamed up on a survey to see what its readers might think of some longer term suggestions. The author explains his choices for how to proceed.
Negotiating Federal Salary: How Do Negotiated Pay Levels in Agencies Compare to the Average Federal Salary?
Recent articles have indicated that federal employees are not represented by unions that negotiate wages. Is this true?
Federal Sector Ethics, Have We All Missed the Boat?
The current leadership of MSPB appears not so committed to their oath of office as to advancing a particular political agenda, a union bias or a specific value system. I think a person writing me as well as many other Federal employees have misunderstood the very nature of ethics.
Federal Union Pre-Decisional Bargaining: Is There Any Limit on the Scope?
The Office of Personnel Management and Office of Management and Budget (on dual letterhead, the first the Author has seen) issued guidance to Agency Heads on the operation of labor management Forums and on the administrations expectations concerning the Pre-decisional role of Federal unions in Agency decision making. The Author raises a number of questions including whether this memorandum invites ethics problems for Agencies. You decide.
Federal Civil Service: A Climate for Reform?
The Author asks whether the public feeling that created a new majority in the House of Representatives may include an appetite for reform of Federal employment rules. In this article, he reviews the last reform act and some of its unintended consequences. Many consider the prior reform act a major failure. Read on and make your mind up for yourself.
The Foreboding Future of Grievances in Federal Labor Relations
The Author explains that recent FLRA decisions have simplified life for FLRA members by allowing them to dismiss arbitration appeals with a simple form letter. The FLRA’s approach while easier for its members has raised both the cost and difficulty of resolving grievances throughout the Federal sector. Agency managers and representatives must now go into major defensive mode when dealing with an employee grievance. Read on and see what the Author recommends.
Pay Freeze Misses Federal Employees Whose Unions Will Bargain Pay
The Author discusses the Federal pay freeze statute, the Obama Executive Order and implementing memo as well as OPM’s guidance. He asks whether the apparent exclusion from a pay freeze for those who are going to bargain pay is intentional or otherwise. Nowhere in the law is there a limit or in any of the paper, instructions to Agency management to hold the pay line with the unions. Read it for yourself and decide whether the President’s union friends got a pass.
Scaring the Federal Employee: Furloughs, Pay Cuts, Hiring Freeze and Benefit Reduction
Look for scary stories about the impact on your federal career as a result of this week’s election. Our advice: take a deep breath and think about the new political structure before jumping to conclusions.
