The representation of federal employees in discipline and adverse actions is complicated. In our experience, most local labor unions are not technically prepared to provide such representation to safeguard an employee’s career and future financial security.
Tag: union
Responding to Proposed Actions
During the course of your federal career, you may find yourself the subject of a proposed agency action. Frankly, the longer your career and more complex your job functions, the greater this likelihood.
Republicans Plan Largest Hit to Federal Employee Pay & Benefits with no “Grandfathering”
Under the Republican plan outlined here, all current and future federal employees would be hit with astonishingly higher retirement contributions while at the same time reducing benefits.
Will Feds be Culpable for Lower Income and Lost Benefits?
The author of this article states it well. Federal employees themselves (collectively speaking) are responsible for the economic pain on the horizon.
Trump’s attacks on federal employee unions, pay and benefits draw bipartisan rebukes
The president’s workplace policies are being hit politically and legally, from Republicans and Democrats, and by multiple union lawsuits.
First Steps Upon Receipt of a Proposed Action
Waiting to begin addressing a notice of proposed removal from federal service severely undermines the ability of federal employees to substantively respond to proposed actions.
FAQ: Union Membership and Representation
It is important to note that the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) will first examine whether the union has exclusive representational authority over the matter in dispute.
Does It Hurt To Have A Union Representative?
The underlying premise of the benefits of representation is that the representative, whether union, friend, legal, or relative, is qualified to provide such representation and more knowledgeable than the person needing the representation.
When Unions Go Bad
Somewhat regularly, we field calls from union members in the federal sector (and even union officials) regarding issues with union representation or leadership. The issues may involve claims of failure to provide union representation (including adequate representation are most common), the…
Can It Hurt To Have A Union Representative?
There is a prevailing theory that it is usually better to have union representation, than not have union representation, given such need. While we are certainly proponents of labor organizations and their representational roles, particularly since we have been on…
AFGE Sues OPM Over Data Breach
Breaking News: The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) announced yesterday, June 29, 2015, that it filed a class action lawsuit against the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) concerning the recent massive data breaches of federal employee, retiree, and contractor…
Union Data Reports
Finding and Retrieving Information on Your Union One of the most common questions we get from federal employees in a bargaining unit is, “how do I find out how much my union spends?” In that regard, we offer this post.…
FAQ: Overtime
Question: “Can my supervisor control my overtime?” Answer: Yes. Overtime is considered an assignment of work and thus a management right at Title 5 USC § 7106. However, procedures for distributing overtime have generally been determined to be negotiable as are…
BREAKING: U.S. Border Patrol Cuts AUO
Agency (CBP, ICE, USBP) Begins Elimination of Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime InformedFed.com received information, and a copy (see below) of the official Agency memorandum distributed by e-mail to employees, announcing the start of AUO (Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime) cuts for U.S. Border…
FAQ: Recalling Union Officials
Question: “[We] Would like to recall our union officials How do we go about it. What is the procedure?” Answer: Most federal union constitutions do not provide, with specificity, for the recall of union officials. Instead, as evidenced in the AFGE…
Keep Organized to Prove Your Case
“Having a case” and proving a case are two different things. Two of the most common recurring issues we encounter in consulting with clients is 1) lack of collected evidence and/or 2) lack of organization concerning collected evidence related to…
FAQ: Union Membership Solicitation
Question: “Can a [federal] union official recruit members during duty hours or official time?” Answer: Rarely is the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) as clear in other questions as they are with this question. Unless your Master Agreement or other negotiated instrument…
MSPB: No Right to Counsel
Recently, a Federal employee argued the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) “abused its discretion” by failing to appoint (and pay for) an attorney to represent her before the Board concerning her removal (“firing”) from the Internal Revenue Service. The appeals…
Grievance Presentation
Some of the best laughs we have in my office are when we read negotiated grievances submitted by union representatives (and sometimes ULP Complaints as well).
FAQ: Unhappy With Union Representation
“When union members feel they are not being represented properly what options do we have in removing elected positions? Recall? Special election? Signature collection? Bid of no confidence?”
FAQ: Union Membership and Representation
Question “I am a federal employee. Do I have to pay dues to be represented by the union?” Answer No. If you are a member of the bargaining unit, the Union must represent dues paying members and non-dues paying members…