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! 

ANNOUNCEMENT: General Membership Meeting

NTEU Chapter 280 will be having a General Membership Meeting on 
Tuesday November 26, 2013 from 11:30am to 12:30pm.  
The meeting will be held at the union office, located at 3376 EAST.  
All members are encouraged to attend.

 ---

Food and beverages will be provided.  

---

Thank you for supporting NTEU.

New Vice President at Large

On November 5, 2013, the Executive Board voted to appoint Bill Wassell to the position of Vice President at large replacing Freshteh Toghrol who recently retired from the Agency.  Bill is a Chemist with the Human Health Division at the Office of Pesticide Programs and is a long time member of NTEU280.

Welcome Back to Work (Shutdown)

Dear NTEU Members,

Welcome back to work!

 

As you know, the House and Senate approved legislation that would end the government shutdown by funding federal agencies at current levels through Jan. 15, 2014, and provide back pay for furloughed federal workers. The legislation would also immediately lift the debt ceiling until Feb. 7, 2014.

In addition to ending the shutdown and raising the debt ceiling, the legislation would create a bicameral conference committee charged with negotiating a final budget agreement for FY ‘14 by Dec. 13, 2013, so that Congress would have sufficient time to consider and pass the agreement before funding runs out on January 15.

NTEU fought hard to end the government shutdown and we are very pleased that Congress has reached an agreement to provide back pay for furloughed federal workers and meet our nation’s financial obligations.  NTEU will continue to work with our supporters in the House and Senate to ensure any final FY ’14 agreement provides federal agencies with sufficient resources to meet their missions, and ends sequestration once and for all.

Many Federal employees have experienced difficulties paying their bills during the shutdown.  On behalf of our members, I wrote to Administrator Gina McCarthy requesting that EPA provides its employees with a letter to creditors, similar to the one HHS has provided to their employees, to explain the impact of the government-wide shutdown and to assure them that this is a temporary situation beyond our employees’control and that they will be returned to pay status as soon as possible.  Such a letter would be very helpful to our employees in dealing with financial problems that may arise due to the government shutdown and furlough.

Also, OPM has prepared sample letters to creditors, mortgage companies and landlords for use by employees that need to make payment arrangements due to the lapse of appropriations.  Please see the attached file.  OPM provided these sample letters to agency chief human capital officers and HR directors to make them available to employees.  These letters are also available on OPM’s webpage at: 

http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/sample-letters-for-creditors-mortgage-companies-and-landlords.doc

Finally, I would like to thank those of you who participated in the rallies in front of the House and the Senate demanding to end the government shutdown and to provide back pay for furloughed federal workers.

Thank you for supporting NTEU.

Amer Al-Mudallal, President

NTEU Chapter 280

UPDATE:  Management provided the requested letter.  It is available on the EPA intranet "shutdown" page (accessible to employees).  If you have any difficultly accessing the letter, please contact Amer or any member of the Executive Board for assistance.  

Vice President at Large

Vice President at Large Freshteh Toghrol. Ph.D., has retired.  Hence, we have a vacancy on the NTEU 280 Executive Board that we are seeking to fill. The Vice President at Large position is a part-time position.  If you are interested in applying for this vacancy, please provide a resume together with a cover letter to the Chapter. Any NTEU280 members who are interested in this vacancy, are asked to respond by no later than COB Tuesday October 31, 2013 [note:  we have extended the deadline from October 15, 2013 due to the government shutdown].