The following pages contain excerpts of news stories that were published this past month. Generally, the opening paragraph of each story is included as well as those paragraphs that feature NTEU’s position on the issue. In some cases, the complete story is available from the Web site of the publication. Links to the sites are built in to the electronic version of this document. However, some publications may limit access to subscribers or only make the stories available for a fee. In all instances, copyright remains with the original publisher.
House lawmakers move to strike DHS personnel overhaul (cyberFEDS® )The House Homeland Security Committee approved legislation that would repeal personnel reforms at the Department of Homeland Security.
The DHS Authorization Act for FY 2008, H.R. 1684, allocates $40 billion for the department and includes an amendment that would eliminate programs relating to its performance management and employee relations systems.
"This legislation would put the final, and overdue, nail in the coffin of a personnel system that would bring serious harm to DHS employees and make even worse the serious morale problems that are widespread in DHS," said NTEU president Colleen Kelley.
March 29, 2007
House committee votes to cancel performance pay plan at DHS
(Federal Times)The House Homeland Security Committee took a step toward dismantling the Homeland Security Department’s embattled performance-based pay system on March 28.
Lawmakers approved a budget amendment to strip the department of its authority to establish a new human resources management system.
“This legislation would put the final, and overdue, nail in the coffin of a personnel system that would bring serious harm to DHS employees, and make even worse the serious morale problems that are widespread in DHS,” said National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley.
March 29, 2007
Homeland Security Reauthorization Calls for Changes to Personnel System
(CQ Today)The House Homeland Security Committee approved an authorization bill Wednesday that would end the department's embattled personnel system.
The bill (HR 1684), approved 26-0, includes an amendment by Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, that would strike a section of the 2002 law creating the department (PL 107-296) that gives the Homeland Security secretary the flexibility to create a unique personnel system.
Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said in a statement that the Jackson-Lee amendment "would put the final -- and overdue -- nail in the coffin of a personnel system that would bring serious harm to DHS employees and make even worse the serious morale problems that are widespread in DHS."
The bill also would alter the status of Customs and Border Protection officers, allowing them to collect the same retirement benefits as other federal law enforcement officers.
March 28, 2007
House panel votes to repeal DHS personnel overhaul
(GovExec)The House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday approved legislation with language to repeal controversial personnel reforms at the Homeland Security Department.
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley had described the new plan as "sheer folly," and demanded that DHS bargain with the union prior to implementing any portion of the personnel system.
"This legislation would put the final, and overdue, nail in the coffin of a personnel system that would bring serious harm to DHS employees," Kelley said, "and make even worse the serious morale problems that are widespread in DHS."
March 28, 2007
DHS EXPANDING HC PLAN DEPARTMENTWIDE
(FedNews-Online)The Department of Homeland Security last week notified two of its largest unions that the agency was forging ahead with its performance-based human capital plan.
NTEU has vowed to continue to fight DHS’ human capital plan -- the labor relations component has been mired in litigation for the past year and a half.
March 15, 2007
DHS to move ahead with parts of labor relations overhaul
(GovExec)The Homeland Security Department informed union leaders last week that it plans to implement portions of its proposed labor relations reforms, including those governing adverse actions and appeals.
NTEU President Colleen Kelley criticized DHS' plans, arguing that it is "sheer folly" for the department to move ahead on the regulations without seeking additional input from its employees.
"DHS management has made a series of poor decisions that have caused morale among its employees to plummet," Kelley said. "This will only add to that long list of harmful decisions."
March 13, 2007
Unions await more information on DHS HCOP
(Federal Human Resources Week)Federal employee unions applauded the Department of Homeland Security's recent decision to pilot pay for performance before rolling it out departmentwide, but remain skeptical of the program -- Human Capital Operational Plan(HCOP) -- in general.
"We are still awaiting clarification. Our collaborative discussions ended last April, and they have never restarted," NTEU President Colleen Kelley told FEDHR. "I hope they are not simply trying to shed the baggage around pay for performance and deflect the attention and lack of support on Capitol Hill by simply changing the name."
March 12, 2007
DHS Drops ‘MaxHR’ Label, Will Focus on Broad Human Capital Reforms, “Culture of Performance”
(Government Employee Relations)The Homeland Security Department will stop using the term “MaxHR” to refer to its personnel system and instead focus on broader human resources issues, DHS spokesman Larry Orluskie told BNA Feb. 26.
According to Orluskie DHS’ HCOP, to be distributed to the department’s 180,000 employees in the near future, will focus on five primary goals.
Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, told BNA during the union’s annual conference Feb. 27 that she was skeptical of the new plan and awaiting clarification from DHS as to the department’s intentions. “If they had something that DHS employees would support, they would have let me know about it,” she said.
March 13, 2007
DHS to Test Pilot Program for Performance-based Pay
(Federal Times)Two years ago, the White House expected pay for performance to be spread throughout most major Homeland Security Department agencies by 2008 and to be well on its way to becoming a common practice across the government.
But now, only a few hundred intelligence employees at Homeland Security are expected to be testing a pilot version of that system next year, and some say the future of civil service pay reform at the department is far from certain.
Unions hailed news of the personnel system’s rollback. NTEU President Colleen Kelley said Feb. 26 she is glad it is limited to a pilot program adding Homeland Security instead should focus on correcting problems such as inadequate training, staffing and resources that have left the department with some of the worst morale problems in government.
March 5, 2007
Union Protests New DHS Rules to Punish Poor Performers
(Federal Times)The Homeland Security Department said March 7 it will put new rules into effect enabling managers to punish poor performers, sparking protests from a leading federal union.
Homeland Security’s personnel system has been hobbled by congressional funding cuts and court decisions that found it violated employees’ collective bargaining rights.
The National Treasury Employees Union, on March 12, demanded that Homeland Security negotiate before implementing the rules.
March 19, 2007
Unions Slam DHS Personnel System Move
(Federal Employee News Digest)Unions were sharply critical of a DHS decision to implement the adverse actions and appeals parts of its new personnel system after the program was rebuked in the courtroom.
NTEU, for its part, said it would demand that DHS bargain with the union before implementing any portion of its “much-maligned personnel regulations.” NTEU President Colleen Kelley said it was “sheer folly” for the agency to move ahead on any part of the regulations “without securing meaningful and current input from its own employees.”
NTEU said one of the union’s key legislative priorities for the year is to continue to work with lawmakers to repeal DHS authority to make changes to the current personnel system by agency regulation.
March 19, 2007
DHS Revamps Pay-for-Performance Plan
(Federal Employee News Digest)Officials with DHS have opted to delay full implementation of a long-planned switch to pay-for-performance work rules – and the leader of one of the largest federal employees unions expressed satisfaction at the move.
“It is a victory for DHS in that at least over the next two years they will be operating under a pay system they both understand and trust,” said Colleen Kelley, president of NTEU.
As for the new program – with its new name – Kelley expressed yet another concern. “I certainly hope this change is far more than cosmetic, because much more is needed, and most particularly a willingness by DHS to work with employees and their unions.”
March 5, 2007
NTEU to Charter First TSA Chapter, AFGE Calls Move "Amusing and Appalling"
(FEDagent)On Tuesday, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) announced that it is chartering its first chapter for employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at one of the nation's largest airports.
NTEU Chapter 304 will represent 1,400 TSA employees at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. NTEU says the successful organizing drive was conducted in response to requests from TSA employees at JFK who had previously organized together as the Metropolitan Airport Workers Association.
NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said, "TSA employees need serious, effective and determined representation. These employees are charged with securing our entire air transportation network while providing customer service to the traveling public."
March 29, 2007
Unions vie for TSA members at JFK International
(Federal Times)The National Treasury Employees Union’s decision to form a chapter of airport security screeners could set up another union fight for Homeland Security Department employees.
NTEU President Colleen Kelley said March 27 that its new Chapter 304 will represent the 1,400 Transportation Security Administration employees at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
March 28, 2007
NTEU to Set Up TSA Worker Chapter At JFK Airport
(The Frontrunner)The National Treasury Employees Union announced yesterday that it would set up a chapter next week for federal security screeners who work at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
March 28, 2007
Unions square off over TSA
(United Press International)Labor unions are squaring up for a fight over who will represent 40,000 U.S. airport security screeners if a bill granting them collective bargaining rights passes Congress this year.
Tuesday the National Treasury Employees' Union, or NTEU, announced it would charter a local chapter of screeners, federal employees who work for the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Union President Colleen Kelly told reporters in a conference call that the local at JFK was just the start, pledging a recruitment drive starting at half a dozen international airports adding that the NTEU was responding to demand from screeners at airports.
They "can see how we represent their colleagues in (Customs and Border Protection)," she said, adding that screeners "wanted the same level of service, of representation."
March 28, 2007
NTEU tests waters of representing TSA screeners, creates backlash (cyberFEDS® )NTEU president Colleen Kelley announced today that the union has created a charter encompassing some 1,400 Transportation Security Officers at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
"NTEU is taking an exciting step forward in ensuring front-line employees at airports are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve," Kelley said.
Kelley said although NTEU cannot officially represent TSOs, the union is moving ahead in consulting employees on issues related to performance appraisals, training, work schedules and when management directives aren't being followed. NTEU already represents 500 Customs and Border Patrol officers at JFK Airport.
March 28, 2007
TSA, a Union Target
(Washington Post)The National Treasury Employees Union announced yesterday that it would set up a chapter next week for federal security screeners who work at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
Colleen M. Kelley, NTEU's president, said more than 600 employees of the Transportation Security Administration at the airport plan to join the union.
Current law does not give TSA screeners collective-bargaining rights, although the agency permits them to join unions and be advised by union representatives in some proceedings, such as those called to discipline or fire screeners. Legislation approved by the House and Senate would provide bargaining rights to screeners; the Bush administration has threatened to veto any bill that carries a union-rights provision for the TSA.
March 28, 2007
Unions Joust for TSA Workers Despite Bush Pledge to Veto Collective Bargaining Bill
(CQ)The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) said on Tuesday it will form its very first chapter of TSA employees next week at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
“TSA employees need serious, effective and determined representation,” said NTEU President Colleen Kelley. “These employees are charged with securing our entire air transportation network while providing customer service to the traveling public. This is a high-stress job and these employees get little support from TSA management.”
NTEU plans to work on issues such as promotions, work schedules, pay performance appraisals, leave, disciplinary actions and filing complaints with the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General. “Most immediately we are going to target on what management calls their pay for performance system . . . we are going to be launching an effort to bring fairness to that plan,” she said.
March 27, 2007
NTEU to represent 1,400 federal airport screeners
(GovExec)The National Treasury Employees Union on Tuesday announced that it would establish a chapter to represent more than 1,400 Transportation Security Administration employees at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
NTEU President Colleen Kelley said Tuesday that, despite the union's current limitations in bargaining with TSA, it plans to establish the same partnerships with agency employees in Atlanta, Denver, Chicago and with employees at other New York-area airports, including LaGuardia International Airport in Queens and Newark International Airport in New Jersey.
"There are a lot of issues that are not being addressed by TSA," Kelley said during a conference call with reporters. "TSA employees need serious, effective and determined representation."
March 27, 2008
Senators looking for compromise on TSA bargaining
(Federal Human Resources Week)Legislation that includes a provision granting Transportation Security Administration officers collective bargaining rights has met significant Republican opposition.
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley pointed out that the bill would not enable transportation security officers to strike. The Aviation Transportation and Security Act already protects against that possibility.
March 12, 2007
Senate Backs Labor Rights for Airport Workers
(Reuters)Ignoring a White House veto threat, U.S. Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a Republican effort to deny labor collective bargaining rights to about 45,000 federal airport security workers.
In a mostly party-line 51-46 vote, the Senate rejected an amendment that would have struck the collective bargaining provision from a bill aimed at bolstering U.S. security by implementing remaining recommendations of the bipartisan commission created after the September 11 attacks.
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley told a Senate panel on Monday the agency "has been plagued by personnel problems never seen in any federal agency." The situation is costing taxpayers millions of dollars in recruitment and training costs.
March 6, 2007
Senate Repels Effort to Cut TSA Bargaining Provision
(Federal Employee News Digest)The Senate, on March 6, voted down an attempt to deny TSA screeners new collective bargaining rights included in the 9/11 Commission Recommendations bill.
In testimony delivered to a Senate subcommittee, Kelley said “TSA has been plagued by personnel problems never seen in any federal agency … and years of massive turnover has wasted millions of taxpayer dollars in recruitment and training costs.”
March 12, 2007
Senate OKs 9/11 Bill Containing TSO Rights
(Federal Employee News Digest)Unions welcomed Senate approval of a bill (S. 4) that enacts remaining 9/11 Commission recommendations – and extends collective bargaining rights to TSOs at the TSA. The House approved a similar measure containing those rights.
NTEU lent its support. “Congress has spoken clearly and forcefully that these fundamental rights have far too long been denied to these dedicated federal security employees,” said NTEU president Colleen Kelley.
Kelley said the legislation would put the screeners “on equal footing with the private sector passengers screeners in place at some of the nation’s airports, who already enjoy such rights – and with their fellow employees in DHS.”
March 19, 2007
TSA Collective Bargaining Provision Sparks Political Battle
(Federal Employee News Digest)Just as backers ramped up a call for prompt passage of a bill that would give TSA airport screeners collective bargaining rights for the first time, opponents ramped up their efforts to squash it.
“Equity, security and stability of the TSA work force compel Congress to provide collective bargaining rights for the only major work force at DHS denied those rights,” said Colleen Kelley, president of NTEU.
Screeners already have the right to join unions – but under current law they cannot collectively bargain for better salaries or better working conditions. “Federal workers represented by a union have no right to strike and any statement to the contrary is patently false,” Kelley said.
March 5, 2007
Audit finds few problems with IRS outsourcing program (
GovExec)
The Internal Revenue Service has done an effective job in setting up a program for private sector companies to collect federal tax debts, according to a recent audit, but some members of Congress and an employee union are hoping to end the program before its planned expansion later this year.
The National Treasury Employees Union has pushed hard to overturn the program, frequently citing testimony by Everson that IRS employees could collect the back taxes at lower cost than contractors, if the agency were given funds to hire additional staff.
March 30, 2007
IRS delays return processing contract
(Des Moines Register)
A $103 million contract with IAP Worldwide Services to process income tax returns is being delayed again to complete needed background checks, the Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday.
The company was expected to begin work at seven locations nationwide last December.
Shortly before then, however, the IRS said IAP would begin work at the Kansas City, Mo., and Ogden, Utah, sites - a six-month delay, according to the National Treasury Employees Union.
March 29, 2007
Firms hired by IRS for tax collection have security problems
(Tucson (Ariz.) Citizen)The controversial IRS program that uses private collection companies to dun taxpayers has been effectively implemented, but gaps remain that could jeopardize the security of confidential tax information, according to a new federal audit.
However, the findings prompted complaints Wednesday by the union representing IRS employees, a leading critic of the privatization effort. "This report is rife with alarming examples of data security lapses," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "I find it shocking that the IRS' response is that it will address these security lapses in the next round of contract negotiations since this month the IRS renewed two contracts for a full year."
March 30, 2007
IAP's $103M deal with IRS delayed again
(Business Week)The Internal Revenue Service told government workers Wednesday that it is delaying a $103 million contract with IAP Worldwide Services for the second time, according to the National Treasury Employees Union.
The IRS said IAP would begin work at two sites and take over the remaining sites in June 2007 -- a six-month delay, according to the union.
Colleen M. Kelley, union president, said IAP will now begin work at one site in August. The other six sites will be transferred to IAP on a rolling basis through October.
"If this new schedule holds true, it will be a full 16 months for IAP to assume this work," said Kelley.
March 28, 2007
Gaps remain in private tax collection
(USA Today)The controversial IRS program that uses private collection companies to dun taxpayers has been effectively implemented, but gaps remain that could jeopardize the security of confidential tax information, a new federal audit reported Wednesday.
However, the findings prompted complaints Wednesday by the union representing IRS employees, a leading critic of the privatization effort. "This report is rife with alarming examples of data security lapses," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "I find it shocking that the IRS' response is that it will address these security lapses in the next round of contract negotiations since this month the IRS renewed two contracts for a full year."
March 29, 2007
US Rep Cites 'Serious' Violation by Private Tax Collector
(Dow Jones)House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., said Friday his committee is investigating Internal Revenue Service private tax collectors and is aware of "numerous complaints" by taxpayers and "one serious violation of law."
Rangel said he plans to move legislation to repeal or greatly scale back the IRS' use of private collection agencies. He urged IRS Commissioner Mark Everson not to award any new private tax collection contracts.
One critic of the program, Colleen Kelly of the National Treasury Employees Union, urged the IRS to publicly disclose the nature of the complaints.
March 23, 2007
Congress Keeps the Spotlight's Hot Glare on IRS Private Collections
(Collections & Credit Risk Magazine)It's a battle royale, Washington D.C.-style. Congress is the battleground where critics and supporters of the IRS debt collection privatization program are clashing, armed with dueling press conferences, inflammatory public statements and lobbying visits to influential committees.
The National Treasury Employees Union, the most vocal critic of the program, sued the IRS in late January for the release of documents related to the program.
NTEU President Colleen Kelly said the IRS apparently did not select its three pilot agencies based on the cost of their bids, and that the tax agency needs to explain how the agencies were selected.
March 2, 2007
Audit Credits IRS for Private Tax Collection Project
(Dow Jones)The IRS's controversial private tax debt collection project suffered some computer security problems but the tax collector won praise for developing and implementing the program, a new report said Wednesday.
Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union and a longtime opponent of private tax collectors, said the audit report "is rife with alarming examples of data security lapses." She cited cases of transmitting data over an unsecured channel, storing taxpayer data on a server used for four other contractor clients and failing to load antivirus and encryption software.
March 28, 2007
Private Firm May Rejoin IRS Debt Collection Program in 2008
(Tax Analysts)One of the three private firms contracted by the IRS to collect unpaid taxes has officially abandoned efforts to renew its contract but has left open the possibility of rejoining the program when it is expanded.
“We have discussed the extension of our IRS contract, both within our law firm and with the IRS, and by mutual agreement, we will not be performing on this contract under the extended limited implementation phase, which runs through March 8, 2008,” Linebarger Goggan said in a statement.
Meanwhile, those opposing the program again pledged to try to kill it. House Ways and Means Committee member Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a fierce critic of outsourcing federal tax debt collection, said at the annual legislative conference of NTEU that the program was a “cash cow for special interests.”
March 5, 2007
CBP officer fights order to quit city post
(Washington Times)A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer is fighting an order by CBP to resign as an elected member of a Texas city council or be fired, saying the agency -- which approved his request to seek office -- is violating his First Amendment rights by now forcing him to choose between his job and public service.
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen M. Kelley, whose organization brought the suit, called the injunction "an important step forward in a vital case in the continuing battle to protect the free-speech rights of federal employees."
Ms. Kelley, whose organization represents 150,000 employees in 30 agencies, including 14,000 at CBP, said the preliminary injunction preserved Mr. Ramirez's right to serve on the council while the court considers the merits of his case and called the CBP order "an outrageous violation of this officer's rights.”
March 29, 2007
Customs Agent Wins Preliminary Bid Against Government
(Associated Press)A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent has won a preliminary bid to bar the government from forcing him to give up his federal job or his post as an unpaid West Texas city councilman.
Jaime Ramirez, a customs agent who works at the Presidio Port of Entry at the Mexican border, sued the government in January after being ordered to quit one of his posts.
Last week a federal judge in Washington, where lawyers for the National Treasury Employees Union filed the case on his behalf, ruled in his favor. U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler said "that there is no imminent danger that either the government's interest or the public interest will be harmed while this case is fully litigated."
March 20, 2007
Border officer can keep job, council seat
(United Press International)A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer has won the right to keep both his job and his seat on a local city council.
This week his union, the National Treasury Employees Union, or NTEU, successfully obtained a preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court in Washington, preventing the agency from firing him.
Judge Gladys Kessler said in her decision that the agency's effort "could have far-reaching implications for the First Amendment freedoms of government employees throughout the country to participate in a wide range of local, non-partisan community activities," according to an NTEU statement.
March 14, 2007
A Second Calling and the First Amendment
(Washington Post)First Amendment right? Or conflict of interest?
Jaime Ramirez, a Customs and Border Protection officer in Presidio, Tex., ran for a nonpartisan, unpaid city council seat in 2004 and won. He had no opposition in the 2006 election and remained in office. Then, last December, the agency reversed its position and ordered Ramirez to resign his council seat. Ramirez balked at giving up his council seat and filed a complaint with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The National Treasury Employees Union, whose lawyers are representing Ramirez, views the case as important to the free speech rights of federal workers. Colleen M. Kelley, the union president, said that "CBP should be doing all it can to encourage its employees to contribute to their community in this way."
March 16, 2007
Border Politics
(Legal Times)Jaime Ramirez checks passports for the U.S. Border Patrol in his native 5,000-person border town of Presidio, Texas. He also sits on the local city council, a nonpartisan position he has held since 2004. But after Ramirez won re-election last fall, the Border Patrol told him to resign from the council or lose his job.
Last week, Judge Gladys Kessler granted Ramirez, 43, a preliminary injunction on claims his First Amendment rights had been violated. “It would appear that the reversal in the agency’s position is directly related to simple bureaucratic or managerial shifts to people who probably have little, or no, particular knowledge of local conditions,” she said.
March 20, 2007
Push for 3.5 percent pay raise begins (cyberFEDS® )Representatives of civilian and military federal employees are pushing for a 3.5 percent pay raise in 2008.
It would help close the pay gap between the federal and private sectors, argued Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.
The NTEU and the Military Coalition -- a group of 35 organizations that represent more than 5.5 million active and retired members of the uniformed services and their families -- sent a letter to members of both the House and Senate Armed Services Committees arguing for a higher pay raise.
Federal employee pay is, on average, 13 percent less than that of their private sector counterparts, Kelley said. The gap remains, despite the existence of the 1990 Federal Employee Pay Comparability Act, which was intended to close the public-private pay gap in stages over 10 years, she added.
March 26, 2007
NTEU Calls for 3.5 Percent Pay Raise
(Federal Daily)The head of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) expressed support for a 3.5 percent pay raise for military service members, and said civilian federal workers deserve the same.
In March 21 letters to members of the House and Senate military personnel subcommittees, NTEU President Colleen Kelley supported a 3.5 percent raise for both service members and civilian federal workers.
Kelley also said the higher raise would help close the pay gap between public servants and private-sector workers. She also said service members need a healthy raise to make up for last year’s 2.2 percent pay hike—the smallest increase for the military in 13 years.
March 23, 2007
Labor leader pushes 3.5 percent military, civilian pay raise
(GovExec)A federal labor union on Wednesday joined a coalition of organizations representing members of the military and their families in calling for a 3.5 percent 2008 pay hike for both service members and civilian federal employees.
In letters to members of the House and Senate Armed Services military personnel subcommittees, Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, supported a 3.5 percent raise for service members, and said civilian federal workers deserve the same.
Like the military, "federal civilian workers serve their country faithfully and are facing a widening pay gap," she said. Kelley has called the administration's recommendation "a failure," arguing that it will "put the federal government at a further disadvantage with the private sector in hiring."
March 21, 2007
Walter Reed fallout sparks contracting debate
(Federal Human Resources Week)Members of the Democrat-controlled Congress and other key players have connected the dots between conditions and personnel issues at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and what they see as the Bush administration's weighty reliance on contracting.
National Treasury Employees Union president Colleen Kelley blames the lapse in the quality on a drawdown of 300 federal maintenance employees to fewer than 60 after the A-76 competition. She said the conditions were a "not-at-all surprising result of the federal contracting process that drives experienced federal employees from their jobs and seeks to replace them with unaccountable private contractors."
March 26, 2007
Troops deserve better than then lowest bidder
Facing SouthDuring a Congressional inquiry into the Walter Reed scandal, it was revealed that services at the medical center had been outsourced to IAP Worldwide Services. IAP has been the target of criticism on other "competitive sourcing" initiatives, including a $103 million contract with the IRS:
Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees' Union (NTEU), chided the agency for contracting with IAP despite the fact that IAP recently admitted it would not have five of the original seven data centers ready by the beginning of tax filing season.
Kelley also criticized the agency for not performing better oversight of the contractors it works with, especially in terms of ensuring the privacy of individuals' Social Security numbers."For an agency like the IRS, with such a poor record of contractor oversight, these actions are virtually open invitations to disaster for taxpayers," Kelley said.
March 13, 2007
Call Vet Hospital Woes Typical In Farm-Outs
(The Chief-Leader)The president of the National Treasury Employees' Union, one of the largest labor organizations representing Federal employees, last week held up the Walter Reed Army Hospital health-care scandal as an example of the hazards of overly zealous government outsourcing.
March 13, 2007
Outsourcing setback: Walter Reed problems threaten job competitions
(Federal Times)The scandal over care for wounded veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center sparked numerous inquiries and the sackings of senior Army officials. But the fallout may also trip up the Bush administration’s competitive sourcing policy.
Opponents of competitive sourcing — in which contractors are invited to compete for work performed by federal employees — say the problems at the medical center stemmed in part from outsourcing gone bad.
Jobs competitions drive civil servants from their positions because workers fear their jobs will be lost in the reduction in force that occurs regardless of whether civil servants win, NTEU President Colleen Kelley said in a statement. As with Walter Reed, agencies find it difficult to recruit replacements, meaning work suffers, she said.
March 12, 2007
Union, Mikulski See Walter Reed Disrepair/Outsourcing Link
(Federal Daily)In the wake of the Walter Reed Army Medical Center debacle, union leaders and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., pointed out that facility maintenance there had been subjected to a public-private competition that vastly reduced the center’s upkeep workforce.
“What happened at Walter Reed is all too typical of the results of federal contracting,” National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen Kelley said.
The most immediate impact of an A-76 competition, she said, is that federal employees, fearful of losing their jobs in an agency reduction-in-force, begin looking for other work. As many leave, their agency finds it virtually impossible to recruit replacements, with the result that the work suffers, she said.
March 12, 2007
Outsourcing blamed for Walter Reed scandal
(UPI)Labor unions have blamed outsourcing for the problems at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
"What happened at Walter Reed is all-too-typical of the results of federal contracting (out)," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union in a statement this week.
The union called the scandal over conditions at the hospital "a not-at-all surprising result of a federal contracting process that drives experienced federal employees from their jobs and seeks to replace them with unaccountable private contractors."
March 9, 2007
Labor leaders seek permanent job competition limits
(GovExec)Labor union representatives urged lawmakers on Tuesday to make permanent legislative provisions aimed at leveling the playing field for federal employees forced to defend their jobs against contractors through public-private competitions.
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley also sought new measures to extend federal employees' rights to appeal decisions in public-private competitions.
She said the most important factor in overcoming retirement challenges is making government jobs competitive with those in the private sector. They argued that the government must improve salary adjustments, benefit plans and employee rights to gain an edge.
March 7, 2007
Bush re-nominates Pope, Cabaniss to FLRA
(Federal Human Resources Week)The Bush administration has re-nominated Carol Waller Pope of the District of Columbia to be member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority for the remainder of a five-year Democratic term expiring July 1, 2009. It also re-nominated Chair Dale Cabaniss of Virginia for a five-year term, expiring July 29, 2012, and will re-designate her as chair if she is confirmed.
"I welcome White House action to reappoint Carol Waller Pope to another term on the FLRA, and I call on the Senate to act promptly on her confirmation," said National Treasury Employees Union president Colleen Kelley. "The FLRA plays a vital role in overseeing federal sector labor-management relations and is well-served by a member with Ms. Pope's knowledge and experience on a wide range of important issues in the federal workplace."
March 26, 2007
President nominates Democrat to fill out labor relations board
(Federal Times)President Bush has nominated Carol Waller Pope for a second term on the Federal Labor Relations Authority, in a step that addresses union and lawmakers’ calls for a Democrat on the board.
FLRA is an independent body that sets policy and adjudicates disputes between unions and agencies. It normally has three members, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Only two members can have the same political affiliation.
NTEU President Colleen Kelley, who in January called for Pope’s reappointment, applauded the action. “The vital role of the FLRA is too important to leave seats open for any period of time,” Kelley said in a March 12 statement.
March 13, 2007
Democrat Named to Labor Relations Board
(Federal Times)President Bush has nominated Carol Waller Pope for a second term on the Federal Labor Relations Authority, in a step that addresses union and lawmakers calls for a Democrat on the board.
FLRA is an independent body hat sets policy and adjudicates disputes between unions and agencies. Only two members can have the same political affiliation.
NTEU President Colleen Kelley, who in January called for Pope’s reappointment, applauded the action. “The vital role of the FLRA is too important to leave seats open for any period of time.”
March 19, 2007
Lawmaker renews push to improve management training
(GovExec)Legislation reintroduced this week in the Senate aims to provide a consistent and intensified training program for managers and supervisors across the government.
"Good leadership begins with strong management training," said bill sponsor Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, in a floor statement. "It is time to ensure that federal managers receive appropriate training to supervise federal employees."
The measure has gained the support of several federal labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union.
March 23, 2007
NTEU Applauds House Passage of Whistleblowers Bill
(Federal Daily)The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) applauded a House vote approving a bill to expand whistleblower rights and protections for federal workers—including national security employees.
House approval of HR 985, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act, “addresses some very serious concerns that impact taxpayers and, indeed our entire nation," said NTEU President Colleen Kelley on March 15.
President Bush has threatened a veto, but support for the measure appears both broad and deep, whistleblower advocates say. The bill rolls back a series of judicial rulings that have weakened existing whistleblower rights, gives whistleblowers new rights to fight reprisals and expands protections to employees not covered by current statute, Kelley said.
March 19, 2007
Retirement Envy
(GovExec)For decades, federal employees have enviously glanced over at their counterparts in the private sector: the salaries, the stock options, the perks. Life looked so much better on the capitalistic side of the fence.
Now, as baby boomers head into retirement -- in droves, as we keep being reminded -- some private sector employees are peeking over the fence themselves, and turning a distinct shade of green. What they're seeing is the benefits government workers receive when they decide to leave the working life behind.
"One disturbing trend in the private sector, which will harm millions of Americans, is a move by some companies to cut back -- or eliminate entirely -- such critical forms of compensation as health insurance and pensions," says Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "Let us hope the public sector never follows suit."
March 16, 2007
Key players call for funding, image boost for civil service
(cyberFEDS)Recruitment, retention and equitable pay are priorities for federal agencies and employees, stakeholders said during a House appropriations hearing this week.
The National Treasury Employees Union and the American Federation of Government Employees argued that more competitive pay is needed to make the government competitive with the private sector.
They're requesting a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay increase for 2007 -- half of a percentage point more than what is outlined in President Bush's budget. "We need to be certain that government agencies are able to attract the best and the brightest people," NTEU president Colleen Kelley said. "New employees will also insist that the federal government offer them the most competitive salary and benefits."
March 8, 2007
HEARING FOCUSES ON FEDERAL WORKFORCE
(FedNews-Online)Congress wants to know how the federal workforce can be improved.
Union officials cited smaller pay checks as one hindrance to recruiting top talent.
“If we are serious about addressing workforce issues, fair and adequate pay is the first place to start,” said Colleen Kelly, president of the National Treasury Employees Union. NTEU is advocating a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise for FY 2008.
March 8, 2007
Dems act fast on union-backed issues
(Federal Times)The new Democratic Congress has jumped out of the gate early to support legislative issues important to federal employees, an encouraging sign for union leaders who have felt stymied under previous Republican-led Congresses.
Coming on the heels of the November election, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley said, there’s a lot of energy going into this congressional session and more support from lawmakers for federal employee issues.
“There are more in Congress today than ever before who do recognize and value the federal work force and the work they do every day,” Kelley said.
March 7, 2007
Personnel Issues Find an Audience on Capitol Hill
(Washington Post)The civil service system got a little oversight from Congress yesterday, signaling that federal-employee issues may receive more attention as Democrats wrangle with the White House over budget and policy priorities.
Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said the administration's plan to raise federal pay by 3 percent next year was inadequate and recommended a 3.5 percent increase.
March 7, 2007
Union members ready to start playing offense (
CyberFEDS)
Members from the two largest federal employee unions stormed Capitol Hill this week, hopeful that a new Democratic Congress would be more in tune with their message.
"Things changed in November 2006," said NTEU President Colleen Kelley. "We now have cause to celebrate and believe that significant change is coming. There are more federal employee advocates in the House and Senate then we have had in years."
Both unions celebrated successes in rolling back the administration's governmentwide civil service reform efforts, pointing out that not one lawmaker signed on to the proposed Working for America Act. But, they said, advocacy efforts must continue.
March 2, 2007
Union Critical of OPM Proposal on MSPB
(Federal Daily)The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) is sharply critical of a new Office of Personnel Management (OPM) proposal to dramatically reduce the scope of jurisdiction of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).
The proposed changes would limit the authority of MSPB to reverse an agency or OPM suitability determination or action, said NTEU President Colleen Kelley on March 16. Changes also would bar MSPB from considering any mitigating factor not deemed pertinent by OPM, Kelley said.
On the plus side, Kelley applauded OPM's decision to adopt additional procedural protections for persons subject to an unfavorable suitability decision or action.
March 20, 2007
Recruitment, Retention, Contracting Out Feature Among Concerns Surrounding Federal Workforce
(Government Employee Relations)The coming retirement wave and the need for a serious recruitment campaign are major issues affecting the federal workforce, but contracting out and inferior working conditions -- including pay and benefits not comparable to the private sector -- are limiting agencies’ ability to retain skilled employees, according to witnesses at a March 6 House subcommittee hearing.
Recruitment is not the sole issue, according to NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley, who said that although agencies have made progress in recruitment, many federal employees feel that they have made a mistake once they begin work.
Those who apply for federal jobs have a passion for public service, but “what I do see is this passion and excitement being stifled very early,” in their careers, she said.
March 6, 2007
Unions, Advocate Criticize OPM Proposals on MSPB
(Federal Employee News Digest)A new OPM proposal to sharply curtail the jurisdictional scope of the MSPB is encountering early resistance from unions and some advocates for federal employees.
The changes would limit MSPB’s authority to reverse suitability determinations and suitability actions made by agencies and OPM, according to NTEU, which represents 150,000 federal employees.
“OPM appears to be transforming the MSPB from a legitimate reviewing authority into a rubber stamp, according only the partina of due process,” said NTEU President Colleen Kelley, who also called the proposed rule changes particularly troublesome in light of the obvious potential for agencies to manipulate the system by casting a removal action as a suitability determination.”
March 26, 2007
House Adopts New Whistleblower Protections Bill
(Federal Employee News Digest)The House overwhelmingly adopted a new set of government whistleblower protections, rolling back a series of judicial rulings that have weakened existing protections for federal employees who disclose agency misconduct.
The bill gives whistleblowers new rights to fight reprisals and expands protections to employees not covered by current statute, said NTEU President Colleen Kelley.
“This bill is an important step forward that addresses some very serious concerns that impact taxpayers and, indeed, our entire nation,” she said.
March 26, 2007
Senator reintroduces pay for performance measure
(GovExec)A bill reintroduced Thursday in the Senate aims to alter the implementation of pay-for-performance systems across the government.
"Effective performance management is fundamental to building a results-oriented culture," said Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, sponsor of the bill.
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley argued that employees' pay raises are "a critical factor in addressing the continuing gap between public and private sector pay" and play an important role in an agency's ability to recruit and retain a high-quality workforce. Voinovich's bill would undermine efforts to reach those goals.
"Rather than legislate an effort to limit the pay of federal employees in this manner," Kelley said, "NTEU believes Congress should move aggressively not only to fully fund the personnel flexibilities agencies already have -- including such steps as recruitment and retention bonuses and student loan repayment programs -- but to require federal agencies to make far greater and more effective use of these vital tools than they have in the past."
March 30, 2007
Pushing Pay-for-Performance
(Washington Post)Yesterday, Sen. George V. Voinovich (R-Ohio) introduced a bill to prohibit annual pay raises for federal employees with unacceptable job ratings. Currently, sub-par workers in the government qualify for the January pay raise authorized by Congress and the White House.
On Wednesday, the House Homeland Security Committee voted to roll back a pay-for-performance system under development at the Department of Homeland Security.
The National Treasury Employees Union, which has lobbied Congress to block the new system, welcomed the committee action. Colleen M. Kelley, the union president, said the system would "make even worse the serious morale problems that are widespread in DHS."
March 30, 2007
Panelists suggest focus on job performance first, pay later
(GovExec)Agencies should focus on developing sound systems for evaluating and improving employees' job performance before they factor pay into the equation, witnesses told members of a House panel at a hearing Thursday.
Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said she is not opposed to change, but would like agencies to ensure that any personnel reforms incorporate a fair and credible compensation system that promotes teamwork and focuses on leadership.
"Rules and systems don't motivate people," she said. "Leaders do."
March 9, 2007
Nuclear security employees to try pay-for-performance
(GovExec)Nonbargaining unit employees at the National Nuclear Security Administration may become the latest test group to work under a new pay-for-performance system proposed by the Office of Personnel Management.
The small group of employees in NNSA's only bargaining unit will be an exception. But according to the National Treasury Employees Union, NNSA has succeeded in removing some positions from the bargaining unit over the past few months.
"We are concerned that DoE will use this as a foothold to expand the project to include bargaining unit employees, or to obtain broader authority to depart from the General Schedule," said NTEU President Colleen Kelley.
March 1, 2007
A reminder: The office and politics don't mix
(Baltimore Sun)With presidential primary campaigns gaining steam, the office responsible for keeping political activity out of the federal workplace is warning employees that e-mails for or against a candidate are prohibited while on the job.
Last week, Special Counsel Scott Bloch rescinded a 2002 advisory opinion stating that the Hatch Act did not prohibit "water-cooler"-type exchanges of opinion e-mailed among co-workers, even regarding political campaigns.
In a statement, Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, described Bloch's new stance on this issue as less-balanced and "over-zealous." Bloch, she said, has an "obsessive focus on regulating the use of e-mail by rank-and-file federal employees," and his efforts could be better focused on protecting whistleblowers -- a mission Bloch "has seemingly forgotten."
March 23, 2007
Agency tries to get word out against political e-mails
(GovExec)The agency that enforces a 1939 law prohibiting government employees from circulating political messages on the job is hoping that four recent Merit Systems Protection Board decisions will help clarify that the ban extends to online communication.
While the Hatch Act generally permits most federal employees to participate in political campaigns, it bars them from engaging in any political activity while in uniform, on duty or in a government building or vehicle.
National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley criticized the recent MSPB decisions. "NTEU believes that OSC resources could be better spent on investigating serious Hatch Act violations," she said, "and protecting whistleblowers against retaliation, a central part of its mission that it has seemingly forgotten."
March 16, 2007
New bill would lower FEHBP costs for federal workers (
cyberFEDS)
House lawmakers introduced legislation to increase the government's share of Federal Employees' Health Benefit Plan premiums to 80 percent from 72 percent.
Unions immediately praised the legislation.
"Passage of this bill is vital not only for federal employees, but for their agencies and for our nation as well," said National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley. "It is outrageous that a growing number of federal employees have to decline to participate in the FEHBP because they can't afford to do so. If federal workers who serve our country in so many vital ways cannot afford health insurance, shame on us."
March 2, 2007
Bill Would Up Government Share of FEHBP Premiums
(Federal Daily)House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., introduced a bill to increase the government's contribution toward Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) premiums, saving the average federal worker about $500 annually. Under the proposal, the government would pay 80 percent of the cost of FEHBP premiums, up from the current rate of 72 percent.
National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) President Colleen Kelley called it “outrageous” that “a growing number of federal employees have to decline to participate in FEHBP because they can’t afford to do so.”
March 5, 2007
Hoyer Makes Good on Health-Care Promise
(The Washington Post)The House majority leader delivered on a promise yesterday. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) introduced a bill that would increase the government's contribution toward federal employee health-care premiums -- as he had pledged he would to two unions earlier this week.
Under the proposal, the government would pay 80 percent of the cost of premiums in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, saving the average federal worker about $500 annually. Currently, the government picks up 72 percent of premium costs.
The introduction of the bill yesterday was welcomed by Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.
March 2, 2007
FDA DELAYS LAB CLOSINGS TILL 2008, GIVING CONGRESS TIME TO THWART PLAN
(FDA Week)FDA informed a key senator this week it will wait until fiscal 2008 to close seven regional labs, which gives Congress extra time to intervene. Federal employee unions feared FDA would close the labs this year.
FDA chief Andrew von Eschenbach told Kennedy in a Feb. 27 letter the "restructuring" will not begin until next fiscal year, and the cost of the consolidations is covered by the budget request for fiscal 2008. FDA will close seven labs and move the equipment and personnel to six other regional laboratories, the letter states.
The National Treasury Employees Union fears the FDA will lose expertise when scientists choose to quit instead of moving. President Colleen Kelley said FDA has not shared its plans with the union and is requesting a briefing from the agency. "FDA has made no supportable case whatsoever that consolidating its labs will enhance the safety of the public," Kelley said in a prepared statement.
March 2, 2007
FDA Moves Ahead to Close Labs
(Federal Daily)Despite congressional criticism, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is moving forward with its plan to close seven of its 13 regional laboratories, forcing out some employees.
“This foolish decision not only poses a serious risk to the nation," said NTEU President Colleen Kelley on Feb. 27, “it is a direct slap in the face at members of both the House and Senate who requested a delay in any such decision.”
March 1, 2007
Political and union leaders want review of FDA lab closings
(Associated Press)Political leaders fighting to keep a Food and Drug Administration lab in this Kansas City suburb open say they have yet to get a response from the agency's national officials concerning the closing.
At a news conference Friday, a group that included Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan.; Rep. Nancy Boyda, D-Kan., Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., and representatives from the offices of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.; Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.; Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo.; and Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., reiterated its concerns about the closure's effect on national security and food safety.
“At this point, we are told this continues to be a proposal rather than a final decision," said Colleen M. Kelley, national president of the National Treasury Employees Union. "We are holding the FDA to that."
March 30, 2007
FDA Plan to Close Labs Could Force Out Hundreds
(Federal Employee News Digest)The FDA is moving forward with its proposal to close seven of its 13 regional laboratories, forcing the relocation of upwards of 250 employees.
The FDA for months has been considering the consolidation effort that it defended as a way to improve efficiency. NTEU, which has opposed the closures, called the move “unfortunate.”
“This foolish decision not only poses a serious risk to the nation, it is a direct slap in the face at members of both the House and Senate who requested a delay in any such decision,” said NTEU President Colleen Kelley.
March 12, 2007
NTEU President Kelley Tells Congress More Workers Key to Reducing Tax Gap
(Government Employee Relations)The solution to the $345 billion tax gap is to hire more IRS employees, NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said March 19 in comments submitted to the House Ways and Means Oversight subcommittee for a March 20 hearing on the tax gap.
“History has shown that the IRS has the expertise to improve taxpayer compliance, but lacks the necessary personnel and resources,” she said.
NTEU is supporting a 2 percent annual net increase in staffing – roughly 1,885 positions per year – over a five-year period, to bring IRS staffing up gradually to pre-1998 levels.
March 27, 2007
Popular Solutions to Tax Gap Problem Prove Elusive
(Tax Analysts)Washington’s newfound obsession with the tax gap continued into early March, when a pair of panel discussions proved more successful at assigning blame than at finding solutions.
Several panelists at the Tax Foundation forum on March 2 raised serious questions about President Bush’s more ambitious legislative proposals for narrowing the tax gap.
NTEU President Colleen Kelley blamed employee cuts and the IRS’s alleged unwillingness to let rank and file employees “exercise their professional judgement about when the audits start and stop” and provide input on things like resource allocation and case selection.
March 12, 2007
