Tax Deferral E.O. Causes Problems for Lower-Paid Employees

The Executive Order on “tax relief” directs the Treasury Department to defer withholding of payroll taxes from the paychecks of federal workers who earn less than $ 4000 in gross pay bi-weekly until the end of this year. Employees cannot keep this “extra” take-home pay; all the taxes must be re-paid to the IRS before April 30, 2021, or else the employees could incur penalties and interest on their involuntary debt. Employees who are fortunate enough to earn higher annual salaries ($ 104,000 gross) will not see any change in their withholding.

NTEU has been opposing this action from the beginning. On September 2, Tony Reardon, NTEU National President, sent a letter to OMB with several questions about how this will affect employees. NTEU Letter

Members of both houses of Congress have written letters to OMB regarding this initiative.

House Letter Senate Letter

In the absence of any guidance from the Treasury, OMB, OPM, or Agency management, NTEU has released some preliminary advice for employees about how they can prepare for the tax debt they will incur next year. Click here for the details: Memo

We will continue to post new information as we receive it.

Administrator Chooses to Ignore Latest Dashboard Data

On July 31, 2020 Administrator Wheeler sent an email moving Headquarters to Phase 2 of the agency’s reopening plan (which, by the way, is still subject to ongoing negotiations with NTEU and other unions).  What the email failed to mention is that this week’s update to the Facility Status Dashboard indicates that HQ does NOT meet all the criteria set forth in the guidelines.  As shown below, none of the indicators for Criterion II is currently met:  The 14-day trend of new cases (Goal IIa) is up, the 14-day trend of positive tests (Goal IIb) is not trending down, and the 14-day incidence rate of new cases (Goal IIc) is 141.6, not <10 per 100,000 people.

NTEU has already requested a briefing from EPA management regarding this unsupported change in the still-unnegotiated terms of reopening.  In spite of his repeated assurances that employees’ health and safety is his first priority, this move indicates the contrary.  Considering our successful implementation of “maximum telework” for the past four months, it is difficult to identify any logical or mission-related purpose for putting more employees and their families at risk, and for disrupting the current implementation that is working so well for so many people.

Please feel free to contact us about your concerns as we continue to fight to protect you and your families from unreasonable risks of exposure to the deadly COVID-19 virus.

A Statement from NTEU National President Tony Reardon

Like many of you, I watched the murder of George Floyd with disbelief, anger and deep sadness.

This horrific event sparked demonstrations and raised voices across our land that speak to centuries of racial and economic injustice, to violent actions that result in senseless deaths like those we've seen in Minneapolis, Baltimore, Dallas and far too many other communities. It is heartbreaking and infuriating that so many of us, our loved ones, friends, neighbors and community members are still fighting for an equal chance to succeed, to be recognized, to be heard, and fundamentally, to be able to live. The long history of racism in our country continues to this day and the frustration, anger and despair of Americans who have had enough is deafening.

As a labor union, we must stand up for those who feel voiceless by linking our arms with theirs and we must speak up and speak out in support of ALL those we represent.  It is essential that we strive every day to protect employees from harassment, discrimination and targeting based on their color or race. We must level the playing field so that what matters are your skills and ability and only your skills and ability. That is our mission day in and day out—to fight for dignity and respect for EVERY federal employee. We are guided by the values that built this union and that we live by today and will follow tomorrow.

We must never stand by silently when we witness acts of oppression and inhumanity. That is not what we are about or who we are as a union. We are strong and proud. We are united in our belief that every individual matters and in our shared humanity. We must welcome all to our union because we recognize that we are truly strengthened by all. Federal employees are the backbone of this country and our country needs you now. 

Stay safe, stay strong and let us stand together. Because together we can—we must—build a better future for our federal government and our nation, and all people who live under our flag.

NTEU President Reardon Writes to Administrator Wheeler, Requests Overdue Briefing on Coronavirus Response

Last week, we emailed our bargaining to share what we were communicating to agency leadership about the needs and concerns of EPA employees. We have yet to receive a response from management. 

During this time of crisis, when conditions and available information are changing daily, two weeks is far too long to go between union briefings. The unions serve as the voices of employees, and EPA is currently cutting out those voices when we think they are needed most. That is why NTEU President, Anthony Reardon, sent a letter this morning to Administrator Wheeler, requesting a briefing to engage with management to resolve the many issues and concerns that our bargaining unit members have communicated to us.

A copy of the letter is below:

We continue to value and appreciate the input of our membership and will keep fighting for the rights and benefits of EPA employees. We will provide updates as we receive them.