1% Pay Raise for 2014

Federal employees will receive a 1% increase in 2014. 

For three years, Federal salaries have been frozen.  NTEU has tirelessly argued for an end to that freeze.  On December 23, 2013, the White House issued an Executive Order regarding the 1% increase.  NTEU focused on ensuring it would not be blocked.    

The 2014 pay tables reflecting the increase are located at:  http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2014/general-schedule/. 

NTEU fought hard to get this increase, which will be effective for the first pay period in 2014.  Efforts will now focus on securing what NTEU National has referred to as a more "robust" increase in 2015.   

2013 Holiday Membership Drive is ON!

2013 Holiday Membership Drive

Receive $50

for each new member you recruit from

November 29, 2013—January 2, 2014

New members receive $100

Fill out a SF-1187 with the new member’s information, write your name at the bottom, and have the new member sign the form. Email, fax, or hand deliver the form to the Chapter office for processing. Once the new member’s eligibility is confirmed (6 - 8 weeks), each of you will receive your incentive check. 

Our strength is in our numbers

More members = More influence

Open Season Help...

Helpful information for members from NTEU National:


"The deadline for switching plans is less than two weeks away. Have you done your research? If not, NTEU can help.

Through Dec. 10, NTEU members can log in for free access to the Consumers' Checkbook's online Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees and Annuitants. Take advantage of this important member benefit!"

--- Source:  http://www.nteu.org, accessed 12-2-13

Scientific Integrity and EPA's Scientific Integrity Policy - Part One

“Scientific Integrity” and EPA’s Scientific Integrity Policy

EPA will soon require an unspecified number of staff members to take an on-line training course intended to familiarize them with its Scientific Integrity Policy.  NTEU280, in an effort to educate its bargaining unit on the Policy’s laudable, as well as worrisome, elements, is initiating this blog series.  

Today’s blog entry begins with the most basic of questions – what is “scientific integrity”?  

A succinct answer to this question cannot be found in the Policy, the Principles of Scientific Integrity [1] upon which it was developed, in President Obama’s March 9, 2009 scientific integrity “kick-off” memo [2], or in the December 17, 2010 Office of Science and Technology Policy [3] memo on the subject of President Obama’s memo, although each document describes elements relating to what might go into a definition of “scientific integrity."

A good working definition for our purposes of “science” might be “knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation" [4].  

So what about “integrity”?  Here are a couple definitions [5]: "integrity" may be defined as “the quality of being honest and fair”; “the state of being complete or whole”

Combining the two definitions for the two words, we might have the following working definition for “scientific integrity":

Scientific Integrity:  knowledge or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observation, and which are arrived at, and represented, in an honest and fair manner.

Questions for our readers

• What do you think of the proposed definition for “scientific integrity”?  Any suggestions of your own? 

• Do you think that the Venn diagram below captures all of the elements and interrelationships of “scientific integrity”?  If it falls short, what do you think is amiss?

• How does personal character come into play in scientific integrity?  Are there other qualities or devices that might be critical to the integrity of an organization’s science?  What do you think those are?  

 Please send your comments to NTEU280 (nteu280blog@gmail.com) and and note if you would like them posted in our next Scientific Integrity blog posting.  All comments will be posted without identifying information. 

[Carleton University, Department of Psychology, Ottawa, ON, Canada.  http://www2.carleton.ca/psychology/ethics/ - Accessed 09.22.2013]] 

Stay tuned for more!

---

[1] USEPA.  National Labor Partnership.  EPA’s Principles of Scientific Integrity.  (Release/publication date not noted)

[2] Obama, Barack.  White House. Press Release.  Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies.  Subject: Scientific Integrity.  March 9, 2009. 

[3] Holdren, John P.  Office of Science and Technology.  Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies.  Subject:  Scientific Integrity.  December 17, 2010.

[4] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/science [Accessed 09.22.2013]

[5] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity [Accessed 09.22.2013]

It's PARS Time!

On November 7, 2013, NTEU 280 held a PARS Q & A session at Federal Triangle for our members.  This session addressed many common questions and concerns about PARS. We know that not all members were able to attend the session.  If you are a member with a PARS question, please feel free to contact NTEU280.  We are here to help!