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NTEU e-Bulletin
Today's Featured Stories:
NTEU Commemorates Memorial Day
Vaccine Mandate Remains Paused Amid Rehearing Request
New Log-In System for Retirement Accounts
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. Get our flier here One Two eThre Four
Vaccine Mandate Remains Paused Amid Rehearing Request
Over the weekend, a group challenging the federal employee vaccine mandate in a federal appeals court filed a request asking the full court to reconsider the case.
Last month, a federal appeals court overturned a nationwide injunction against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate that had temporarily prevented its enforcement until May 31. A majority of the three-judge panel concluded that the lower court did not have jurisdiction to consider the challenge to the mandate.
While the court considers the request for rehearing, the injunction against the vaccine mandate remains in effect. This means that agencies are not permitted to enforce the mandate, or to process requests for reasonable accommodation related to the mandate, while the rehearing request is pending.
New Log-In System for Retirement Accounts
Starting Thursday, there will be a new system for federal retirees who log in to the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Retirement Services Online website to check their annuity accounts. Retirees will need to log in through Login.gov and create a new account if they don’t already have one from another agency that utilizes the sign-in service. According to OPM, retiree account data will remain the same; only the log-in process is changing to add extra security to retirees’ personal account information. Step-by-step directions on how to create a Login.gov account from OPM’s website are available here.
Happening at NTEU
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Download our flier.
ICYMI: Here's what to do if you received a W-2c form.
Returning to the workplace? Know your rights.
Stay connected! Follow us for news updates.
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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.