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NTEU e-Bulletin
Today's Featured Stories:
NTEU Commemorates Memorial Day
House Subcommittee Approves Bill that Harms CFTC, FDA and USDA
End of Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to FEHBP Coverage
NTEU Commemorates Memorial Day
Ahead of Memorial Day on Monday, NTEU joins the nation in remembering and honoring the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Download our flier
House Subcommittee Approves Bill that Harms CFTC, FDA and USDA
A House appropriations subcommittee last week approved legislation that includes major funding cuts for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Food and Drug Administration.
The House Republican bill would cut FDA funding by 2.1 percent. For CFTC, the bill proposes a $20 million funding cut instead of the much-needed increase proposed by the administration.
NTEU also opposes a provision that would defund critical diversity, equity and inclusion activities at CFTC, FDA and USDA.
The full appropriations committee is expected to consider the funding legislation in the coming weeks. NTEU will continue to push back against these and other efforts to reduce critical funding for our agencies.
End of Public Health Emergency Brings Changes to FEHBP Coverage
With the May 11 end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency comes changes to coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).
The Office of Personnel Management released public health emergency transition guidelines to FEHBP carriers.
Some major changes include out-of-pocket costs for lab and over-the-counter COVID-19 tests, FEHBP carriers can stop providing out-of-network coverage for vaccines, and carriers are encouraged to notify covered individuals of changes to key information about their COVID-19 benefits.
For more information, click here.
NTEU Celebrates Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Download the NTEU App for Updates on the Debt Ceiling
Get Updates on NTEU’s Legal Cases on Your Behalf
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NTEU Remembers Oklahoma City Bombing Victims
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. On April 19, 1995, 168 people—federal workers, members of the public and children—were killed in an attack against our government and those who proudly serve. As we remember those who lost their lives and their families, we also remember those who carry on their work.
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Guidance Continues Push to Educate Employees on Collective Bargaining
The Office of Personnel Management issued additional guidance last week outlining several ways agencies should make employees more aware of their collective bargaining rights. The first round of guidance was issued in October following the Executive Order on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.
Agencies are strongly encouraged to improve the ability of unions to communicate with employees by allowing them access to agency bulletin boards, websites and the intranet for educational material. OPM is also encouraging agencies to periodically invite union officials to town hall meetings to educate employees about their workplace rights.
“We believe these are basic processes that respect the rights of federal unions and allow employees who wish to join their unions to do so simply and efficiently,” said National President Tony Reardon. “This guidance understands that strong unions improve the workplace by providing employees with the opportunity to join with their coworkers and share their collective ideas for improving their federal agencies.”
NTEU Stops Agency from Eliminating AWS
NTEU recently won an important victory preventing the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) from terminating alternative work schedules (AWS) at a Maryland training location represented by Chapter 338.
Management at FLETC Cheltenham (Md.) claimed that AWS was causing increased costs and decreased productivity, although the work schedules had been in place for 17 years. After two unsuccessful bargaining sessions over the AWS article in the NTEU contract, the dispute went to the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP). Management had to prove that AWS was having an “adverse agency impact.” NTEU countered this argument by demonstrating that AWS had actually saved FLETC money and productivity did not decline.
NTEU won the case and employees were able to keep their AWS schedules. But this is not the first case of its kind the union has won. This victory follows similar union wins on behalf of Customs and Border Protection employees at ports where management sought to terminate AWS schedules.
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NTEU Remembers Oklahoma City Bombing Victims
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. On April 19, 1995, 168 people—federal workers, members of the public and children—were killed in an attack against our government and those who proudly serve. As we remember those who lost their lives and their families, we also remember those who carry on their work.
|
Guidance Continues Push to Educate Employees on Collective Bargaining
The Office of Personnel Management issued additional guidance last week outlining several ways agencies should make employees more aware of their collective bargaining rights. The first round of guidance was issued in October following the Executive Order on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.
Agencies are strongly encouraged to improve the ability of unions to communicate with employees by allowing them access to agency bulletin boards, websites and the intranet for educational material. OPM is also encouraging agencies to periodically invite union officials to town hall meetings to educate employees about their workplace rights.
“We believe these are basic processes that respect the rights of federal unions and allow employees who wish to join their unions to do so simply and efficiently,” said National President Tony Reardon. “This guidance understands that strong unions improve the workplace by providing employees with the opportunity to join with their coworkers and share their collective ideas for improving their federal agencies.”
NTEU Stops Agency from Eliminating AWS
NTEU recently won an important victory preventing the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) from terminating alternative work schedules (AWS) at a Maryland training location represented by Chapter 338.
Management at FLETC Cheltenham (Md.) claimed that AWS was causing increased costs and decreased productivity, although the work schedules had been in place for 17 years. After two unsuccessful bargaining sessions over the AWS article in the NTEU contract, the dispute went to the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP). Management had to prove that AWS was having an “adverse agency impact.” NTEU countered this argument by demonstrating that AWS had actually saved FLETC money and productivity did not decline.
NTEU won the case and employees were able to keep their AWS schedules. But this is not the first case of its kind the union has won. This victory follows similar union wins on behalf of Customs and Border Protection employees at ports where management sought to terminate AWS schedules.