Earlier today, our Chapter President Amer Al-Mudallal sent
out an e-mail to NTEU280 members advising them that the mandatory August 30th
furlough day will be canceled and the total number of furlough hours for this
fiscal year has been reduced from 55 hours to 47 hours. At this point, we have been told that any
additional furlough hours taken above the 47 hours will be restored to
employees as annual leave. We will
update members as more information becomes available. The Administrator has sent an all-hands
e-mail with a video message to all employees.
[If you missed the Administrator’s e-mail, here is the video. ]
Union participation has been identified as one of the
reasons for the reduction in furlough hours.
Your union has worked tirelessly to ensure that sequestration’s impacts
on our members and on their vital missions would be minimized. Although we have seen the furlough hours
reduced (first from 104 hours to 55 hours and now from 55 hours to 47 hours),
please understand that we are not “out of the woods” yet. Our employees have been furloughed for a
total of 47 hours for FY13. The House
has come up with a budget proposal would dramatically reduce EPA’s FY14 budget. And sequestration and its
challenges do not end on September 30, 2013 – rather, they continue for years
into the future.
EPA has engaged in much belt-tightening. We fully expect difficult times to
continue. We are here to support our
members, the hard working professionals charged with protecting the environment
and the health of our fellow citizens.
Now, more than ever,
your membership in NTEU280 matters!
Thank you for your support and we stand ready to assist you
with your questions and concerns.
