The federal government will now be a more family-friendly employer with the historic approval of a paid parental leave program giving frontline civil servants the financial security to be at home during one of the most crucial times of their lives.
A 12-week paid parental leave program for federal employees is part of the defense policy bill that was signed into law on December 20, 2019. Starting October 1, 2020, federal employees will be able to use up to twelve weeks of paid leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. The Office of Personnel Management is currently preparing draft implementing regulations, which the agency has indicated should be available for public comment in late spring.
Read MoreThe following is an update from EPA on improvements to PeoplePlus, Release 9, that allow employees on more kinds of schedules to track credit hours more accurately and easily. NTEU was actively involved in pushing the agency to make these important changes to improve employees’ ability to earn and record credit hours.
“As requested during the focus group discussions following the implementation of PeoplePlus 9.2, the agency was taking necessary steps to address concerns over the recording of credit hours. Please be advised that an update was made to PeoplePlus, Release 9. The release allows all employees on flexible schedules, including the Maxiflex schedule, to record earned credit hours daily in PeoplePlus, as opposed to recording earned credit hours only after fulfilling their biweekly work hour requirement.”
Read More On October 8, 2019, the Agency issued Order 3115, the “Merit Promotion Plan.” This Order addressed the new requirements for applying for a job at EPA through the USAJOBS application process. According to the new regulations, effective January 1, EPA employees are required to submit a copy of their most recent PARS performance rating and the appropriate SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, when applying to EPA positions posted on USAJOBS. Additionally, internal merit promotion applicants would have been required to be at least “Fully Successful” to be eligible for selection.
Read MoreNTEU was successful in working with Congress to secure an average 3.1 percent pay increase for federal employees and the historic passing of a paid parental leave program providing 12 weeks of paid time to spend with a new child.
Read MoreThe Executive Order declaring Tuesday, Christmas Eve, a federal holiday is welcome news for many federal employees but it does raise some questions regarding pay and leave. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued guidance and information. NTEU provides answers to some of the most common questions.
Read MoreFacing a potential shutdown in late December is all too familiar. NTEU issued a survey to gauge our members’ thoughts on what another holiday shutdown means to them. More than 6,200 members answered our call.
Read MoreOn December 17, 2019, the House approved two appropriations bills to keep the government open, fund agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2020 and provide federal employees with a pay raise.
The bipartisan legislation provides for an average 3.1 percent pay increase (a 2.6 percent across-the-board pay increase and 0.5 percent increase for locality pay rates), which is on par with members of the military. This is a welcome departure from the administration's initial call for a pay freeze and later a 2.6 percent across-the board increase.
Read MorePassed by the Senate on December 17, 2019, the 12-week paid parental leave program is part of a defense bill that the president is expected to sign into law. The House approved the legislation last week. The program, beginning in October 2020, will allow federal employees to use paid leave for the birth, adoption or fostering of a child…
Read MoreWith just over two weeks until the current Continuing Resolution expires on December 20, 2019, Congress and the White House continue to work on a final spending agreement for Fiscal Year 2020. Before the Thanksgiving holiday, congressional leaders announced an agreement on the spending limits for each of the 12 appropriations bills, which was needed to move forward on a final spending deal . . .
Read MoreNTEU is fighting every day to protect your job and employee rights, for increased agency funding, for fair pay, and to retain health and retirement benefits.
As federal employees, you face significant ongoing scrutiny and threats to your jobs, pay, benefits, and rights. NTEU is on Capitol Hill advocating for you and your family, and working to make sure legislators are aware of how federal workforce proposals impact you…
Read MoreMembers of NTEU Chapter 280 still have time to claim the remaining free hard copies of the 2019 Federal Employees Almanac, an incredibly useful resource for everything from understanding your Thrift Savings Plan and Flexible Spending Account to details about retirement and post-retirement processes, rights, and benefits…
Read MoreOpen Season for health benefits and related programs ends this Monday, December 9, 2019.
The 2019 Benefits Open Season provides employees the opportunity to enroll, change, or cancel enrollment for the following benefits:
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB)
Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
Leave Bank
Read MoreFull-time remote teleworkers voted unanimously to be included in NTEU 280’s bargaining unit and they have now officially rejoined. We are thrilled to welcome these employees back to NTEU Chapter 280.
Read MoreOn October 31st, 2019, the Senate passed its first appropriations package, but a final agreement on government funding remains elusive. The current Continuing Resolution is set to expire on November 21st. NTEU is actively working with members of Congress and urging them to properly fund federal agencies, provide employees with a fair pay raise, protect their collective bargaining rights, and avoid another disastrous shutdown.
Read MoreBoth chambers will be in recess next week with legislators in their states and districts for the Thanksgiving holiday. When Congress returns the week of November 26th, there will be two weeks remaining before the current Continuing Resolution (CR)--for agencies that did not receive full-year Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 funding--expires midnight on December 7th between Friday and Saturday…..
Read MoreA few weeks back, NTEU and other federal labor unions won an historic victory and injunction against the anti-employee executive orders (EOs) issued by President Trump. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson enjoined “the President’s subordinates from implementing or giving effect to” the overturned portions of the EOs. Agencies, however, have continued to give force and effect to struck-down provisions of these EOs at the bargaining table and in other fora.
On Thursday, sixteen Senators….
Read MoreLast month, President Trump signed H.R. 6157, a bill providing Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 funding for several agencies covered by the Department of Defense and Labor-Health and Human Services appropriations bills as well as a Continuing Resolution (CR) for other agencies that have otherwise not received FY19 appropriations, thereby preventing a partial government shutdown until December 7, 2018. Agencies funded by the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs, Legislative Branch, and Energy and Water appropriations bill received their full-year funding under previously enacted legislation.
EPA is one of the agencies….
Read MoreAs an exclusive benefit to NTEU dues-paying members, members will again have access to Consumers’ Checkbook’s online Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees and Annuitants, beginning the first day of the federal open season, November 12, 2018.
The guide will be available through NTEU’s web site starting November 12, www.nteu.org, in the Benefit section throughout Open Season (November 12, 2018 – December 10, 2018)….
Read MoreToday, the U.S. Department of Labor announced cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) information for federal retiree benefits in 2019. CSRS annuitants will receive a 2.8 percent monthly increase starting with January 2019 benefit payments, while FERS retirees will see their monthly pensions adjusted by 2 percent. All Social Security beneficiaries ….
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