In a letter to Eric Schaaf, Regional Counsel of EPA Region 2, dozens of ORC attorneys called on him to stand up for their safety and convey their concerns to senior leadership regarding the unnecessary pressure to resume working at regional offices before the danger of the coronavirus pandemic has passed.
Read MoreHappy Mother's Day from NTEU!
This year, there’s extra cause for celebration: the first-ever paid parental leave program takes effect October 1st.
Happy Mother’s Day from NTEU and Chapter 280!
Read MoreNTEU Contacts Admin. Wheeler Regarding EPA’s Plan for a Safe Return to the Workplace
In preparation for the anticipated return of employees to their workplaces, NTEU continues to raise concerns and issues faced by frontline EPA employees during the coronavirus pandemic. We want to assure employees required to return to their worksites the safest possible return, while continuing to ensure teleworking employees have the support and equipment they need to effectively perform their jobs remotely.
Read MoreNational Capital Leaders Urge Continued Telework for Federal Employees
The governors of Maryland and Virginia and the mayor of Washington, D.C., sent a letter last week to the administration, urging the continuance of expanded telework policies for the federal workforce amid the coronavirus pandemic.
While the majority of federal employees are outside of Washington, D.C., the federal government has an overwhelming presence in the area.
Read MoreNTEU Demands Protections Before Reopening Federal Buildings
On April 27th, the National Treasury Employees Union released the health and safety conditions that must be met before federal employees are required to return to the workplace. “Most federal employees have never missed a beat during this pandemic, either successfully teleworking from home or continuing to report to duty because their job is not eligible for telework,” Reardon said. “But before those away from the office are required to return, NTEU will insist that some basic steps be taken to reduce the risks to their health and well-being.”
Read MoreOPM Guidance on Emergency Sick Leave
OPM has published additional, detailed guidance on the use of emergency sick leave granted by the Families First Corona Virus Response Act. By clicking here, you can access the more detailed guidance from OPM on the availability and use of the additional 80 hours of emergency sick leave authorized under the FFCRA.
Read MoreIncreased Telework Options for EPA Employees During Coronavirus Pandemic
Today, in part in response to feedback from EPA union representatives including NTEU Chapter 280, EPA's Office of Mission Support (OMS) announced that it has waived several of the existing limitations on flexible work schedules to increase the options available to EPA employees working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.
Read MoreTelework Bill Introduced in the House and Senate
Last week, Representative Gerry Connolly reintroduced a bill (H.R. 6108) that would protect existing employee telework arrangements and encourage agencies to expand telework. The bill also provides a procedure that agencies must follow to justify any proposed reductions in telework and requires agencies to submit a report on the cost savings they achieve from telework. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) introduced a companion bill (S. 3428) today in the Senate.
Read MoreDC Declares a State of Emergency over Coronavirus
Today, at approximately 4:30 PM, DC declared a state of emergency and a public health emergency and recommended that “non-essential mass gatherings, including conferences and conventions” be postponed or canceled. Mass gatherings are defined as events with 1,000 or more people in one location. These declarations allow Mayor Bowser to make use of a broader array of authorities to prevent further spread of COVID-19.
Read MoreNTEU Launches Coronavirus Webpage
The ongoing outbreak of coronavirus has understandably raised many questions and concerns for federal employees. NTEU, on your behalf, is pursuing answers. Just last week, the union launched a special section on the NTEU website that will be constantly updated with the latest information about your workplace safety.
Read MoreA Historic Achievement: Paid Parental Leave for Federal Employees
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 MorePeoplePlus Update Improving Tracking of Credit Hours
The 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 MoreMerit Promotion Eligibility National Grievance Update
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 MorePay Raise Secured, EPA and Other Agencies' Budgets Increased
NTEU 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 MoreHistoric Passage of Paid Parental Leave for Federal Employees
Passed 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 MoreOpen Season for Health Benefits Ends Monday, December 9th
Open 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
Full-time Teleworkers Back in NTEU 280 Bargaining Unit
Full-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 MoreUpdate on Legislation Introduced to Take Away Employee Rights
Recently, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee met to consider several anti-employee and anti-union bills.
The proposed bills would eliminate collective bargaining on Information Technology decisions, upend the role of the Merit Systems Protection Board….
Read MoreLawsuit Update
This week NTEU argued its lawsuit challenging the May 25 Executive Orders (EOs) issued by President Trump. On Wednesday afternoon, a federal judge heard arguments from NTEU and other federal unions in the combined lawsuit challenging the three EOs. NTEU General Counsel Greg O’Duden argued…..
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Join NTEU for a Lunchtime Rally for Employee Rights July 25
Next Wednesday, NTEU will present arguments in our lawsuit against the President's anti-employee executive orders. These orders limit NTEU’s ability to represent employees, make it easier to fire hard-working employees where a manager and employee have a personality conflict, and restrict collective bargaining at government agencies. This undermines decades of federal law that govern labor-management relations in the federal sector.
NTEU is joining with other federal unions for a July 25 lunchtime rally….
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