If you haven't paid attention, we are actually getting a small cost of living adjustment this year, after many years of freeze or smaller-than-the-cost-of-living increases. While private sector professionals have been seeing significant pay increases since 2008, government employees have been burdened with pay freezes or, after calculating inflation, reductions.
But, surprisingly, the Trump Administration let the cost of living increases go into effect this year, while simultaneously threatening a future pay freeze. Here's the new salary table for the Washington, DC area....
Read MoreFrom our government budget and politics contact. Looks like a game of chicken is unfolding. Democrats and Republicans are both saying that a government shutdown will hurt the other guys more than their side. As a result, it's looking more likely that January 19 will roll around without a budget or continuing resolution (CR). Hopefully cooler heads will prevail. Read on for more detail from our budget contact....
Read MoreThe Environmental Integrity Project sent an open letter to EPA employees yesterday praising us for our work. The letter, which is signed by 2125 people, is pasted, in its entirety (minus the signatures), below. The letter remains open for signature here.
Read MoreAs feared, House leaders today kept their promise to conservatives and defense hawks by releasing a strange cromnibus (combination of CR & Omnibus) designed keep the federal government operating after December 22nd and provide full-year FY 2018 funding only for the military. This bill is H.J. Res. 124 (113).
This bill provides....
Read MoreIn case you missed it, EPA is yet again changing it's password requirements. This attempt to strengthen security will ultimately reduce security.
As noted security expert Bruce Schneier notes, the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently published its four-volume SP800-63b Digital Identity Guidelines. As Bruce notes, the document "makes three important suggestions when it comes to passwords:
Read MoreAfter EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt wrongfully accused EPA's attorneys of colluding with outside parties, NTEU Chapter 280 came to their defense with a strongly-worded rebuke of the Administrator's improper accusations.....
Read MoreIn case you needed another reason to join NTEU as a member, all NTEU members are automatically covered by a $1,000 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policy -- Free! There is no premium to be paid; the only requirement is that they remain an NTEU member in good standing.
Members can get basic policy information....
Read MoreOn December 8th, the current Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the federal government for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 expires and the temporary debt limit suspension in place will be lifted. To date, none of the FY 2018 appropriations bills have been enacted and there remains no agreement on the so-called spending caps (sequestration).
On December 8th, funding for federal agencies expires and the temporary debt limit suspension will be lifted. Congress must vote before then to pass a CR, an omnibus appropriations bill, or some combination thereof to keep the government open.....
Read MoreDr. Francesca Grifo, the Scientific Integrity Official at EPA, is undergoing treatment for a serious illness. She is expected to be away from work until January 1, 2018. Her accumulated annual and sick leave, and leave bank hours are exhausted. Please consider donating annual leave to help her out. Dr. Grifo has been instrumental in helping our employees with Scientific-Integrity issues and we need her back.
Dr. Grifo is a member of the EPA leave bank. You may transfer your leave to Francesca by completing....
Read MoreFederal benefits "open season" started today. This is the time that federal employees may change their insurance plans without a qualifying life event. Open season runs through Monday, December 11, 2017. NTEU Members get free access to the awesome Washington Consumer's Checkbook health plan comparison tool.
Employees wishing to change their health insurance company may do so....
Read MoreA House Committee advanced legislation this week increasing the probationary period for federal workers to at least two years.
H.R. 4182, the inappropriately named "Ensuring a Qualified Civil Service (EQUALS) Act of 2017," would extend the probationary period for employees from one year to at least two years and possibly beyond.....
Read MoreFederal employees will be able to add more money every year to their Thrift Savings Plan accounts under a change announced by the Internal Revenue Service.
Starting in 2018, TSP account holders can make pretax contributions of up to $18,500 a year, an increase of $500 from 2017.
The increase applies.....
Read MoreIn a round of bad news for federal employees, the U.S. House of Representatives this week passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 71) by a vote of 219-206 that directs the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to produce at least $32 billion in cuts. This committee primarily has jurisdiction over federal employee benefit programs, which is where these cuts would need to come from, translating into federal employee benefit reductions.....
Read MoreNTEU learned today of a broad time and attendance investigation by the Inspector General's Office. We have confirmed that they are investigating employees in the Office of Transportation and Air Quality, but it appears from the scope of their employee questioning that they may be investigating beyond OTAQ.
Given this broad investigation, it's essential to keep in mind several important items....
Read MoreThe EPA Alumni Association created a "job center" for former EPA employees and those employees planning to leave the agency. Here's the Association's press release......
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