News Archive: 2008
Local
1998 included in NFFE newsletter
December 31, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 was mentioned twice in the latest
edition of The
Federal Employee, the newsletter published by the National
Federation of Federal Employees (see pages 10 and 15).
National
Union/Management Council meeting held in Washington, DC
December 18, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Union representatives
and Passport Services Management officials met in
Washington, DC on December 16th and 18th for their
annual National Union/Management Council meeting.
The parties discussed ergonomic issues, work schedules,
internal controls, health and safety issues, and other
matters. The parties also jointly presented the
2007 Union/Management Cooperation Award to Ken Cato,
Assistant Regional Director at the Special Issuance
Agency and formerly an Operations Offices at Passport
Services HQ. In addition to the meeting with
Passport Services Management, on December 17th the Union
representatives also met with Consular Affairs Human
Resources Managers and staff, and provided
representational training to Local 1998 representatives
located in Washington, DC. (click
for more on internal controls)
NFFE Local 1998 Union
reps meet with President-Elect Obama's DOS Transition
Team
December 17, 2008: Ambassador Joe Huggins (retired), a
member of President-Elect Barack Obama's Transition Team
for the Department of State, met with NFFE General
Counsel Susan Grundmann and NFFE Local 1998 Union
representatives (Colin Walle, Rob Arnold, Jennifer Gile,
and Kamaria Blandford). The Union representatives
conveyed concerns about vulnerabilities in the passport
issuance process that are a priority that the Union
believes should be addressed. The Union expressed
its appreciation to Ambassador Huggins for the
meeting. Letter
to President-Elect Obama's DOS Transition Team
(click
for more on contracting out acceptance function)
<SEE "Passport
Integrity" HOT TOPIC>
Membership drive held at Washington
DC Passport Agency
December 17, 2008: Five bargaining unit employees made the decision to
become Union members at a membership drive.... (click
for more) (click
for more)
Four Union Reps attend advanced
training pilot program at IAMAW's Winpisinger Center
December 12, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Union President Colin Walle, Vice
President Rob Arnold, Senior Steward (PPT/NO) Debra Reese-Jolly, and
Senior Steward (PPT/TO) Kamaria Blandford.... (click
for more)
Grievance filed over discipline for
alleged passport file snooping
December 2, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 filed a grievance with Passport
Services HQ regarding admonishments given to 32 bargaining unit
employees who had viewed passport files of celebrities from late 2002
to early 2008. (click
for more)
Unfair Labor Practice charge filed against Passport Services Management
November 28, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge (ULP) against Passport Services.... (click for more)
Four Day Workweek option added at
New Orleans Passport Agency
November 23, 2008: The Union and Management at the New Orleans
Passport Agency agreed to implement.... (click
for more)
Union
files Clarification of Unit seeking answers on 4 positions excluded
from Union coverage
October 22, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 filed a Clarification of Unit with
the Federal Labor Relations Authority.... (click
for more)
NFFE Local 1998 marks 27 years as
exclusive representative of Passport Services employees
October 19, 2008: Twenty-seven years ago, on October 19, 1981, the
Federal Labor Relations Authority certified NFFE.... (click
for more)
Rick
Brown reelected as President of NFFE; Local 1998 reps attend
convention
October 6-9, 2008: Rick
Brown was reelected for the fourth time as President of the
National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) at the Union's 48th
convention held in Milwaukee, WI.
(click for more)
Passport
Services implements Arbitrator's decision in 2007 OT adjudication
performance measurement grievance
October 2, 2008: Passport
Services HQ Management issued a memo to all Passport Specialists
nationwide implementing Arbitrator Jerome H. Ross's January 8, 2008
order. Arbitrator Ross had issued that order following up his
October 23, 2007 decision in NFFE Local 1998's grievance (filed on
March 30, 2007) over the unfair measurement of desk adjudication
performance while on overtime. Passport Services Management had
filed an Exception (an appeal) to the Arbitrator's order, but on
September 30, 2008 Management withdrew the appeal. As a result
of the arbitration decision, measurement of overtime production now
factors in many of the other tasks that Passport Specialists must
perform when assigned to adjudicate passport applications. The
Arbitrator's January 8th order concerned the retroactive application
of the fair measurement. According to Passport Services, 396
Passport Specialists' production averages for 2007 were raised as a
result of the retroactive calculation. However, partly due to
other factors within that job element (e.g., counter adjudication
production), Passport Services asserted that only 8 employees were
affected to the extent that their rating for the numerical job element
was raised, and only 2 of those 8 had their overall rating raised
(with 1 receiving a performance award as a result of an adjusted
overall "Outstanding" rating). If other employees
believe they should also have received a higher level rating, NFFE
Local 1998 encourages them to contact their office Union
representative or Union President Colin Walle as soon as possible.
<SEE "Passport
Integrity" HOT TOPIC>
Grievance filed re: sick leave
restriction
October 2, 2008: Kamaria Blandford, Senior Steward for the Passport
Services Office of Technology Operations, filed an Informal Grievance
regarding the sick leave restriction placed on an
employee.
Management rejects two grievances
October 1, 2008: Passport Services HQ Management rejected two
grievances filed by NFFE Local 1998. The first was a Step 3
Grievance filed over the 2007 appraisal and the career ladder
promotion for a GS-9 Passport Specialist. Management replied
that the Union did not prove the merits of the case. The second
was a Step 2 Grievance concerning a Passport Specialist's delayed
promotion from GS-7 to GS-9, and GS-9 to GS-11. Management
responded that the grievance was not timely filed, and that it was
without merit.
Union VP Rob Arnold visits National
Passport Center, Boston Passport Agency, and New York Passport
Agency
September 24-25, 2008: New Union Vice President Rob Arnold visited the
Passport Offices in Portsmouth NH, Boston MA, and.... (click
for more) (click
for more)
Contractor
pleads guilty to passport file snooping
September 16, 2008: Media organizations reported that a contractor had
been charged and plead guilty to illegally snooping at the files of
numerous "high profile" individuals over the course of three
years. (click
for more)
NFFE challenges FAIR Act appeal
denial; argues contractors should not perform critical passport
acceptance agent function
September 15, 2008: National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE)
President Rick Brown wrote a letter to Secretary of State Condoleeza
Rice appealing the Department of State's (DOS) September 5th denial of
the Union's July 29th FAIR Act challenge.
(click for more)
<SEE "Passport
Integrity" HOT TOPIC>
Sen.
Obama addresses IAMAW convention
September 12, 2008: Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), candidate for
President, addressed
the 2008
IAMAW convention by live video feed.
(click for more)
Donate to help those affected by
Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Hanna
September 12, 2008: The Union is encouraging all members to donate to
the American
Red Cross to help with disaster relief for those affected by the
hurricanes. Passport Services employees, including those
represented by NFFE Local 1998 at the New Orleans and Houston Passport
Agencies, have been affected by these hurricanes. An easy and
quick way to donate is to use your cell phone to text the word
"GIVE" to "2HELP" (24357), or call
1-800-RED-CROSS.
IAMAW convention tackles difficult
issues and numerous proposals for amendments and resolutions
September 8-12, 2008: Delegates to the 2008
IAMAW convention voted on scores of proposed amendments to the
IAMAW Constitution as well as dozens of proposed resolutions, but no
issue was more contentious than a proposed increase in Union
dues.
(click for more)
NFFE Union Reps attend IAMAW
convention
September 7-12, 2008: Over half a dozen members of the National
Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE) attended the 2008
IAMAW convention.
(click for
more)
Unfair Labor Practice charge filed
against Passport Services for disciplinary action taken against Union
representative
September 9, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Recording Secretary Jennifer Gile
filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge.... (click
for more)
2008 IAMAW convention theme: FDR's
"Four Freedoms"
September 8-11, 2008: The 2008
IAMAW convention had for its theme the "Four
Freedoms" speech by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
given in his 1941 Inaugural Address. (click
for more)
Newest IAMAW member Hillary Clinton
makes motion to endorse Barack Obama for President
September 8, 2008: The 2008
IAMAW convention welcomed Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), who gave
an address to the convention and thanked the IAMAW for its endorsement
during the Democratic Party Primary.
(click for more)
IAMAW
Convention kicks off on September 7th; Sen. Hillary Clinton to address
delegates
September 5, 2008: The International Association of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) convention
was on Sunday, September 7th, at the Coronado Springs Hotel
in Orlando, FL.
(click for more)
Grievance filed re: citizenship
adjudication training course
August 28, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Recording Secretary Jennifer Gile
filed a Grievance Between the Parties with Passport Services HQ
alleging violations of Article 4 and Article 13 - specifically,
Section 8, which states: “Changes to the Foreign Service Institute Passport
Examiners Correspondence Course will be shared with the
Passpport Services & NFFE Local
1998 sign MOU re: auditing passport file searches
August 22, 2008: The Union and Management concluded bargaining on a
Memorandum of Understanding that addressed a new program in which
Management officials in each office would audit.... (click
for more)
NFFE
issues press release re: FAIR Act challenge for application execution
July 31, 2008: The National Federation of Federal
Employees issued a press
release regarding the FAIR
Act Inventory challenge filed on July 29th over the use of
contractors to perform the passport application acceptance and
execution function. (click
for more) <SEE "Passport
Integrity" HOT TOPIC>
NFFE files FAIR Act Inventory Challenge regarding use of contractors for
passport application acceptance and execution function
July 29, 2008: National Federation of Federal Employees President Rick
Brown submitted a challenge, or appeal, to the Department of State
concerning the use of non-governmental contractor employees for the
job of accepting and executing passport applications. (click for more)
<SEE "Passport
Integrity" HOT TOPIC>
Grievance filed re: tardy reprimand
July 28, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 filed a grievance regarding a reprimand
given to an employee in July 2008 for an incident in May 2007, and for
which the employee had already received notice of the violation as
well as counseling and training. Normally reprimands are kept in
an employee's file for one year, so the Union argued that the employee
had already satisfied that time requirement and kept a clean
record.
GAO criticizes lack of planning for
passport increase in 2007 and for future growth
July 25, 2008: The Government Accountability Office
(GAO) issued a report titled “Comprehensive
Strategy Needed to Improve Passport Operations.” The GAO
found that “State was largely unprepared for the unprecedented
number of passport applications in 2007….” Looking to the
future, the report noted, "While State also identified a
framework to guide its modernization efforts, it does not have a
comprehensive plan to prioritize and synchronize improvements to its
passport operations. A comprehensive strategy for making these
improvements - for example, using a business enterprise approach -
would better equip State to handle a significantly higher workload in
the future."
30 co-sponsors for H.R. 5752
July 16, 2008: As of July 15th, 30 members of the U.S. House of
Representatives had signed on as co-sponsors of H.R. 5752. The
two most recent co-sponsors are Virgil
Goode, Jr. (VA) and Frank
LoBiondo (NJ). The Union welcomes their support! The
bill was originally introduced on April 9th with 10
co-sponsors.
Union Steward
Isis Press (PPT/LA) meets with
Congressional staffer for
Representative Tom Berman (D-CA),
the Chairman of the House
Foreign Affairs Committee, to discuss HR 5752
Congressman Tom Allen co-sponsors
H.R. 5752
July 8, 2008: Congressman Tom
Allen from Maine signed on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 5752, the bill
that would require that the U.S. passport be made in the U.S.
Members of NFFE Local 1998 that are constituents of Congressman Allen
had contacted him and asked him to support and co-sponsor the bill,
which has been endorsed by the IAMAW, NFFE, and Local 1998. The
Union welcomes his support!
Managers make up 1/4 of staff but
got 1/2 of Awards $ and 2/3 of QSI's in FY 2007
July 8, 2008: The awards report transmitted to the Union by Passport
Services HQ, in accordance with Article 19 of the collective
bargaining agreement, revealed that in Fiscal Year 2007 - the same
time period as the passport backlog and unprecedented waiting times
for applicants - bargaining unit employees received only 1/2 of the
total money given in cash awards and only 1/3 of the Quality Step
Increase awards.
NFFE asks Congress for 3.9% increase
in 2009 and pay parity for federal workers
June 26, 2008: The National Federation of Federal Employees, along
with other federal worker unions, has been advocating
a 3.9% increase and pay parity between civilian and military employees
for 2009. The Administration had proposed to Congress a 2.9%
increase for federal workers in 2009, but the House Appropriations
Committee voted on June 25th for a 3.9% increase.
More night shift employees moved to
day shift
June 23, 2008: In addition to the 9 employees at the Washington (DC)
Passport Agency moved to the day shift as a result of the settlement
of the Union's October 2007 grievance, 19 employees at the National
Passport Center (Portsmouth, NH) were moved today to the day
shift.
IAMAW
and NFFE issue "Action Alert": End Passport Outsourcing!
June 10, 2008: The International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) and the National Federation
of Federal Employees (NFFE) issued an "Action Alert" calling
on members to contact their Congressperson to support H.R. 5752, a
bill that would stop the outsourcing of U.S. passport
manufacturing. The IAMAW included the action alert in its i-mail
message emailed to thousands of members, while NFFE included the
action alert on its website,
along with a position
paper. To send a
message to your Congressperson in support of H.R. 5752, click on this
link: "End
Passport Outsourcing" Action Alert. For more
information, click on the H.R. 5752 webpage linked under "Hot
Topics".
3 attend federal collective
bargaining class
June 9, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Chief Steward Karen Proctor-Adams, NPC
Senior Steward Helen Bechard, and PPT/WN Senior Steward Melissa Toby
attended the week-long Federal Sector Collective Bargaining class at
the IAMAW's Winpisinger Education and Technology Center in Placid
Harbor, Maryland.
June 2008 Federal Sector Collective Bargaining class photo at the IAMAW's Winpisinger Center
Latest issue of Local 1998 News
issued
June 3, 2008: The Union published the 14th edition of Local
1998 News. Topics included the settlement of the night
shift grievance, the new adjudication performance standards, and the
Union's endorsement of H.R. 5752.
Union
endorses H.R. 5752: manufacturing the passport should not be
outsourced overseas
May 29, 2008: NFFE
and Local 1998 issued a press
release announcing that we endorse H.R.
5752, a bill introduced by Rep. Bill Sali (R-Id) to prohibit the
manufacturing of the U.S. passport in foreign countries. The
bill was introduced on April 9, 2008 and was referred to the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Union is calling on all
members, employees, and supporters to contact to write or email their
Representatives and Senators and ask them to support
H.R. 5752.
New
adjudicator performance elements
May 23, 2008: Passport Services and NFFE Local 1998 issued a joint
memo announcing the implementation of new performance elements for the
nearly 1300 Passport Specialists represented by the Union. This
is the product of a successful collaboration between the Union and
Management. This change came about as the Department of State
(DOS) Human Resources office sought to make more meaningful
distinctions in rating levels. For example, in 2006, 83% of all
DOS staff were rated "Outstanding" overall (the highest
possible level), while only 32% of the Passport Specialists were rated
at that level. That difference is not expected to
continue. The new elements have some generic job duties that are
identical for all DOS staff but, for the most part, contain the same
language the previous elements had - just moved to different places
as 4 critical elements and 1 non-critical element under the old system
are now 4 critical elements and 3 critical commitments in the new
system. Management agreed in December to a Union proposal to
allow all employees to watch an informative town hall video and
participate in a Union survey, and that input was utilized by the
Union during numerous communications with Management officials over
the last 6 months to jointly determine where the old duties would be
placed in the new elements. The most significant change in the
performance rating system is that each element/commitment will be
rated on a 3-level scale rather than the old 4-level scale. One
very positive result of this change is that the 32 passports
adjudicated per hour Outstanding level (using the GS-9/11 figure) is
no more; employees seeking the highest rating for the numerical
element will now have to adjudicate 28 passports per hour. As
the
integrity of the passport issuance process is the most important
concern of the employees, this is a welcome change indeed because it
will allow those employees an additional 16 seconds per application in
order to more diligently detect passport fraud and make fewer
errors.
Night
shift grievance settled; 9 employees moved to
day shift; new contract article created
May 22, 2008: The Grievance
initially filed by the Union on October 29, 2007 after Management at
the Washington (DC) Passport Agency (PPT/WN) forced new employees to
move to the night shift has been amicably settled. The Union had
invoked arbitration on February 15, 2008, but the hearing has been
cancelled. NFFE Local 1998 Union President Colin Walle and Vice
President Mike Garofano signed a Settlement
Agreement with Department of State and Passport Services
officials. As a result of the settlement, 9 employees at PPT/WN
will move to the day shift, effective Monday, May 26th. Also,
employees on the night/second shift anywhere in Passport Services
nationwide who were not given fair notice of the requirement to work
the night shift prior to be hiring, or who had volunteered for night
(assuming they could return to day shift), have until 8:00 PM local
time on June 13th to email their supervisors that they desire to
return to day shift. Those employees will be moved back to day
shift by August 12th, though delays in construction at the National
Passport Center (Portsmouth, NH), the Charleston (SC) Passport Center,
and the Chicago Passport Agency may move that timetable back for those
three offices. Moving from night shift to day shift (and day
shift to night shift) is henceforth governed by an amendment (a new
Article 38) added to the collective bargaining agreement as part of
the settlement.
Union Chief
Steward Karen Proctor-Adams and Union member Tanika Jenkins
at
the Washington Passport Agency after the Union and Management
announced the settlement of the night shift grievance on May
22nd.
OT $ for employee interviewed by OIG
May 16, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 successfully secured 6 hours of overtime
pay for an employee interviewed by the Department of State's Office of
Inspector General as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the
passport file search controversy. The employee, who did not
violate any rules, was interviewed outside of normal work hours by the
OIG. The Union contacted HQ to obtain concurrence that the
employee was due overtime pay for performing these official duties,
and communicated that information to the employee.
Honolulu Passport Agency visited by
RS
May 14, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Recording Secretary Jennifer Gile
visited the Honolulu Passport Agency to conduct two Union orientation
sessions for employees, meet with managers, discuss issues of concern
with individual employees, and have a membership drive at lunch.
As a result of the trip, eight employees joined the Union.
VP visits Connecticut Passport
Agency
May 7-8, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Vice President Mike Garofano visited
the Connecticut Passport Agency. He conducted an orientation
session for new employees and provided representational training to
new Senior Steward Mayla Tillackdharry.
Now
is the time to apply for a passport!
April 26, 2008: With
the implementation of the final phase of the Western
Hemisphere Travel Initiative projected for June 1, 2009, there has
never been a better time to apply for or renew your U.S. passport.
Current passport information is available on the U.S.
Department of State’s website, www.travel.state.gov,
or by calling the National Passport Information Center at
1-877-487-2778.
Local
1998 RS & NFFE BR visit Colorado
April 24, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Recording Secretary Jennifer Gile and
NFFE Business Representative Gary Johanson visited the Colorado
Passport Agency. They met with PPT/CO Management officials,
conducted a Union orientation for employees, held a membership drive,
and provided representational training. At least 3 employees
became Union members as a result of the trip.
NFFE
Business Representative Gary Johanson, Local 1998 Senior Steward
Sarah Sun,
Local 1998 Recording Secretary Jennifer Gile, and
new Local 1998 Union
members Corrina and Maggie at the
Colorado Passport Agency in April 2008.
Management
agrees to allow employees to read Internal Controls Guidelines
April 17, 2008: Passport Services Management informed local office
Management that all bargaining unit employees should be given a
minimum of 3 hours of work time to read the comprehensive (and
lengthy) November 2007 Internal Controls Guidelines, and to hold a 1
hour team meeting to discuss the rules. The Union had made this
proposal to Management on September 13, 2007, in response to the draft
guidelines that were shared with the Union, and reiterated the
proposal on March 21, 2008. Local 1998 welcomes this decision by
Passport Services Management. This is another example of the
Union and Management working together to better achieve the
mission.
H.R. 5752: a bill to require that U.S. passports be manufactured in the
U.S.
April 12, 2008: In the wake of news
that the production of blank passport books had been outsourced to
foreign companies - with actual blank passports being manufactured
overseas, including Thailand - Congressman
Bill Sali (R-Id) introduced
legislation to require that passports be produced in the United
States. The bill, numbered H.R.
5752, had 10 cosponsors and was referred to the House Foreign
Affairs Committee.
Passport
Services embroiled in controversies
April 5, 2008: Following on the heels of 2007's
passport surge debacle, Passport Services has received a great
deal of negative media coverage within the last few weeks. On
March 20th, media reports revealed that three contractor employees
improperly looked at the passport
files for Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, and that a
government employee improperly
looked at the passport file for Senator Hillary Clinton. The
Department of State Office of Inspector General is investigating the
file snooping. NFFE Local 1998 secured an acknowledgement from
Passport Services Management that employees being interviewed by OIG
investigators do possess Weingarten
Rights and may have a Union representative present during the
interview, after a supervisor initially denied the request. The
Union also emailed a reminder to employees nationwide on April
3rd. Media stories on March 26th reported the shocking news that
the passport
cover and new electronic chip has been outsourced to foreign companies,
including one manufacturing plant in Thailand. On April 3rd,
Passport Services' Acting Managing Director Betsy Anderson and Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State (DAS) Ann Barrett sent messages to all
staff nationwide that they would no longer be serving in those
positions. On April 4th, media outlets reported that the top
Passport Services manager, DAS Ann Barrett, was being replaced,
though no
connection was made between that move and the recent
controversies. The Acting DAS for Passport Services will now be
Lawrence Baer.
Local 1998 VP & NFFE BR visit
New Orleans
March 28, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Vice President Mike Garofano and NFFE
Business Representative Gary Johanson visited the New Orleans Passport
Agency. The two representatives met with Management officials,
conducted an orientation of new employees, provided training to the
New Orleans Union representatives (Debra Reese-Jolly, Donald Roberts,
Yvonne Smith, and Jeanette Triplett), and conducted a membership
drive. Ten employees took this opportunity to become Union
members!!!
 |
 |
| Local 1998 VP Mike Garofano, Local 1998 Union Steward Donald Roberts, NFFE BR Gary Johanson, Local 1998 Senior Steward Debra Reese-Jolly, Local 1998 Union Steward Yvonne Smith, and Local 1998 Union Steward Jeanette Triplett in March 2008. |
13th edition of Local 1998 News
published
March 26, 2008: The thirteenth edition of Local 1998 News was
published. Stories covered in the newsletter included
Management's appeal of Arbitrator Jerome H. Ross' ruling in the
overtime performance measurement grievance, an upcoming arbitration
hearing regarding work schedules, the change in policy regarding
"S&R" notations, and the so-called enhanced driver's
license.
Grievance filed re: explanation of
rights given to "probationary" employees
March 25, 2008: The Union filed a Grievance Between the Parties with
Passport Services HQ regarding the explanation of appeal rights given
to employees in a probationary status. The Union alleged that
probationary employees have not been fully informed of their rights,
including
§
5
U.S.C. 7513 appeal rights for
those that meet the definition of an "employee" under
§
5
U.S.C. 7511, in light of the U.S. Court of Appeals decision in the
McCormick
and Van Wersch cases, and the OPM's
recent changes to the CFR. Hundreds of new employees have
been hired under a new "CEP" 2-year probationary period so,
among other requests, the Union is seeking to have employees who had
one year of current continuous federal service either before they
entered on duty or completed midway through their 2-year probationary
period properly notified that they had satisfied the statutory
requirement for earning the
§ 5
U.S.C. 7513 appeal rights in the event they are terminated.
Five
NFFE Local 1998 reps attend training
March 8, 2008: Five representatives of NFFE Local 1998 began a
week-long training class at the IAMAW's
Winpisinger Education and Technology Center. The Local 1998
reps in attendance are Recording
Secretary Jennifer Gile, Senior Steward (NPC) Chuck Black, Union
Steward (NPC) Nate Tortora, Senior Steward (CPC) Russell Gaither, and
Union Steward (MM) Jeff Affleck. They are attending a Federal
Employees Seminar. The training covers issues such as the
Federal Service Labor Management Relations Statute, handling
complaints, filing grievances, filing Unfair Labor Practice charges,
and other matters. This training, paid for by the Union, enables
the representatives to better serve their fellow Passport Services
employees.
 |
 |
| Local
1998 Union reps Jeff Affleck, Russell Gaither, Chuck Black, Jennifer Gile, and Nate Tortora pose in front of the new Local 1998 Union Orientation PowerPoint while at the IAMAW's Winpisinger Center in March 2008. |
NFFE Local 1450 part of $24
million FLSA settlement
March 5, 2008: Attorney
Mike Snider issued a press
release announcing that NFFE
Local 1450 and AFGE Council of HUD Locals 222 had settled a
grievance regarding the Fair Labor Standards Act payment of overtime
wages with the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The
grievance covers approximately 7000 current and former HUD bargaining
unit employees. As part of the settlement, HUD agreed to pay
these employees $24 million. Mr. Snider previously represented
NFFE Local 1998 in a similar FLSA grievance that netted $306,401.09
in back pay plus interest for approximately
500 Passport Specialists.
Union opposes Management's
appeal to FLRA
February 27, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 Union President Colin Walle
submitted an "Opposition" to the February 7, 2008 Exception
(appeal) that the Department of State submitted to the Federal Labor
Relations Authority (FLRA). The Union argued that Management's
Exception should be dismissed by the FLRA because it was not timely
filed and because Management's argument that the Arbitrator exceeded his
authority was erroneous. If the Union prevails in this appeal,
and the FLRA dismisses the Exception, then that means that employees
who were not measured fairly in their 2007 overtime desk adjudication
performance will have their production figures revised effective
February 28, 2007 onward.
Union
invokes arbitration over schedules dispute
February 15, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 invoked arbitration over the work
schedules grievance filed at the Washington, DC Passport Agency.
New employees were forced to work the 4/10 Compressed Work Schedule
and work the night shift, in violation of the Article 26 contractual
requirement that participation in those schedules is
"voluntary". The Union requested a panel of
arbitrators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and
already received the list.
NFFE President Rick Brown meets with
members
February 7, 2008: Rick Brown, President of the National Federation of
Federal Employees, visited Local 1998 Union members who work at the
National Passport Center. President Brown met with Union members
at lunch and also met with the Union representatives to discuss issues
affecting bargaining unit employees.
 |
 |
| NFFE Assistant Directing Business Representative Bill Fenaughty, Local 1998 VP Mike Garofano, and NFFE President Rick Brown, during meeting with NPC Union members on February 7, 2008. | Local 1998 Union members Jeff Strangman, Sarah Cote, Carissa Guilmette, Dennis Yu, and Mike Gagnon, during meeting with NFFE President Rick Brown on February 7, 2008. |
 |
|
| Local 1998 Union Stewards Helen Bechard, Local 1998 Union Steward Sarah Cote, NFFE President Rick Brown, NFFE ADBR Bill Fenaughty, Local 1998 Senior Steward Chuck Black, and Local 1998 Union Steward Nathan Tortora. |
Management
files exception to Arbitrator's award
February 7, 2008: The Department of State Office of Legal Advisor
filed an exception (an appeal) to the Federal Labor Relations
Authority challenging Arbitrator Jerome H. Ross's January 9th decision
on the Union's desk adjudication overtime measurement grievance.
NFFE Local 1998 representatives are working with NFFE National to file an
opposition to the exception.
Union grieves new passport
application
February 1, 2008: In the first grievance of its kind that Local 1998
has filed, Local 1998 submitted a Grievance Between the Parties
regarding the new passport
applications. The grievance alleges
violations of Article 1 (the integrity of the passport issuance
process), Article 4 (Union/Management Cooperation Agreement), and
Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The changes to the forms
were made without involving the representatives (Local 1998) of the
employees who work with the forms on a day-to-day basis to the degree
required by Article 4. The Union requested that Management make
certain changes to the next version of the forms and involve employee
representatives on the drafting committees for future revisions.
Forced CWS/night shift grievance
continues
January 15, 2008: NFFE Local 1998 filed a Step
3 Grievance with Passport Services HQ regarding the decision to
force new employees to work a 4/10 Compressed Work Schedule on the
night shift at the Washington, DC Passport Agency.
Arbitrator
issues decision: OT performance measurement award must be
retroactive
January 9, 2008: Passport Services HQ informed the
Union on New Year's Eve that, pursuant to the Arbitrator Jerome H.
Ross's October 23rd decision on the grievance, they would apply a new
"0.875" factor to the measurement of desk adjudication on
overtime starting on January 1, 2008. This would take into
account the so-called "nonproductive tasks" that employees
must perform while on overtime other than adjudication.
Management stated that this solution would not be applied
retroactively. As the arbitrator retained jurisdiction over the
case, the Union invited Management to jointly contact the arbitrator,
but Management declined, so the Union requested an order directing
Management to comply and the arbitrator issued that order on January
9th. Management was directed to apply the solution from February
28, 2007 onward for those employees who did not have their
nonproductive tasks taken into account previously.
