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].

Recent News Coverage of Furlough

The Washington Post "Federal Eye" blog has been reporting about various agencies' responses to sequestration cuts.  It is an interesting resource for those interested in how the cuts are being implemented in other places. 

In addition, in today's Washington Post e-reader edition (May 1, 2013) and in a prior on-line edition (April 22, 2013), the paper solicited stories of how individual employees are reacting to the furloughs - check out their coverage at "The Furloughed Files - Send Us Your Story" here. 

NTEU National President Calls upon House Committee to Reject Massive Cuts in EPA Funding

The following information was passed on by e-mail to all bargaining unit employees (BUEs) on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 by NTEU280 Chapter 280 President Amer Al-Mudallal. The information is posted at the NTEU National page.  NTEU280 members are reminded to visit the NTEU National page and sign up for members-only e-mail and action alerts (please remember to sign up with your home e-mail).  The NTEU280 National page is updated frequently with information and action alerts, and has many useful members-only features.  Be the first to learn of news that affects you!
"The head of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) called on members of the House Appropriations Committee to reject sharp cuts in the fiscal 2014 budget of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment. In a letter, NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said the subcommittee’s budget for EPA in the coming fiscal year would not only be 34 percent below the fiscal 2013 level, it would be equivalent to funding levels in the 1980s. “Reducing EPA’s budget by this magnitude,” Kelley said, “will have a devastating effect on the services EPA provides to the nation.” The agency would be required to absorb $2.8 billion in cuts from current year funding. She added: “Employees at the EPA work on daily basis to help ensure that all Americans are protected from significant risks to human health and the environment where they live and work.” EPA laboratories, she wrote, perform essentially work assessing environmental conditions, and identifying, understanding and solving current and future environmental problems. The NTEU leader called this work, along with integrating the work of scientific partners such as nations, private sector organizations, the academic world and other agencies “critical to achieving EPA’s mission of environmental protection.” Kelley urged the full committee to reject the subcommittee proposal and ensure that EPA’s personnel levels are sufficient to protect the country’s health and environment. NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments." Also, here are some links to recent articles of interest to members:  "Double Furlough Trouble for Feds" by Kellie Lunney, Government Executive, September 5, 2013 - http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/pay-benefits-watch/2013/09/double-furlough-trouble-feds/69934/ "Union Blast Plan for Steep Cuts to EPA" by Charles S. Clark, Government Executive, August 30, 2013 -  http://www.govexec.com/oversight/2013/08/union-blasts-plan-steep-cuts-epa/69710/

IMPORTANT FURLOUGH UPDATE FOR NTEU280 MEMBERS

Earlier today, our Chapter President Amer Al-Mudallal sent out an e-mail to NTEU280 members advising them that the mandatory August 30^th 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.