Agency Agrees To Reimburse HN Ex-Night-Shifters

April 13, 2012: Friday the 13th turns out not that unlucky for those who worked the former night shift at the Houston Passport Agency.  Incorrectly forced to work later than the rest of the agency on Christmas Eve, a grievance was filed on their behalf.  Today the agency responded, pledging to reimburse each affected employees for the error by local Management.

Passport Services Brings Back SIA 2012 Standards

April 11, 2012: The previously-reported news of the suspension of newly-measurable production standards was announced nationwide by the agency.  The email, from the Office of Adjudication, declared that Diplomatic/Official/No Fee standards would count for employees of SIA.

Agency Calls off Newly-Measurable 2012 Standards

April 3, 2012: Local 1998 inquired about reports that the newly-measurable Passport Specialist Production Standards for 2012 were not yet effectively measurable.  Passport Services responded that production standards for Applicant Response, Counter Inspection, as well as the Diplomatic, Official, and No Fee standards would not count for 2012.

Agency Admits Wrongdoing in WPC Leave Ban

March 28, 2012: In a nationwide electronic posting, Passport Services emailed all bargaining unit employees that it had unfairly implemented a change and refused to bargain over it.  WPC Management had suspended a 59-minute birthday leave policy that had been on the books since the agency opened.  Senior Steward Joel Warne filed an Unfair Labor Charge over the unilateral removal.  Besides the posting, local Management will also be required to negotiate over the 59 minute leave policy.

Arbitration: Houston - Termination of Night Shift CWS

March 26, 2012: Debate over the 2010 death of the night shift, which also spelled the end of the 4/10 schedule in Houston, finally went to hearing.  President Rob Arnold and Steward James Rideaux testified about the contract violations and negative impact to employees arising from the termination of the compressed work schedule.

Respect and Dignity Commitment Reaffirmed at CPC

March 20, 2012: Local stewards received a response to a step one grievance concerning the behavior of a manager during a team meeting.  CPC management agreed with the Union’s assertions that the manager acted unprofessionally.

Arbitration: Boston - Official Time

March 6, 2012: The Union and Passport Services took a two-year long dispute concerning denials of official time in Boston to an arbitration hearing. NFFE General Counsel Stefan Sutich argued the Local's case.

March, 2012 Newsletter Distributed

March 1, 2012: Local 1998's first newsletter for 2012 shipped to all 28 agencies today.  It contains results from the year-end nationwide survey.

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Arbitration: DC - Notational Audits

February 8 - 9, 2012:  In its first arbitration in almost three years, Passport Services and Local 1998 argued out the fairness/attainability of the notational system created in 2010.  Union officers from Seattle, Washington, WPC and NPC testified for the Union.  In its case, the agency stressed the planning and study that went into the system.

Union and Agency Reach Agreement on PIP Meetings

January 20, 2012: A matter that was about to go to hearing was settled amicably between the agency and Union.  Passport Services now agrees that employees are allowed to request and have union representatives along during performance-related meetings when the performance issue is the already subject of a grievance or unfair labor practice charge.

Awards Agreement Nets Improvements in Tucson

January 20, 2012: In response to an information request from WPC Senior Steward Joel Warne, the agency reported that, since negotiations on a WPC awards agreement were completed, employees covered by Local 1998 received $11,700 out of the $18,700 2011 WPC awards budget.

SF Agency and Union Agree on Duty Officer Policy

January 13, 2012: In collaboration with Local Management, San Francisco Senior Steward Gil Yap signed off on a new Duty Officer Agreement.  The main issue to be resolved was equitable assignment of after-hours cases.

Washington Management Refuses to Negotiate Seating

January 13, 2012: A Washington Passport Agency employee was ejected from the cubicle she had occupied for years.  Since the agency was unwilling to negotiate her seating, as it had with most other employees, Vice President Boyd Hinton filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge.

Agency and Local 1998 Settle ULP Dispute

January 11, 2012: The FLRA brokered a settlement in a long-standing dispute between the agency and Local 1998.  Thee Union had made proposals regarding multiple CPC changes in 2011 work processes.  When the agency later reneged or refused to bargain the matters, Vice President Boyd Hinton filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge. 

Changes to 2012 Performance Standards Denounced

December 15, 2011: The Union filed a grievance over changes announced for the 2012 rating cycle.  The dispute centers on whether the new standards for Passport Specialists, as stated by the agency, can be objectively applied, and whether the changes allow for adequate time for employees to perform the required tasks and still detect passport fraud.

Union Requests Details on New Performance Standards

November 30, 2011: Local 1998 requested the presence of an Office of Adjudication representative at a pre-arranged conference call between the Union and Management, so that changed for 2012 could be fully explained.  No representative attended and no answers were received.