04/13/09 Communique

PBC Pay Negotiations Continue
The GAO Union and GAO management met on Monday, April 6, for the first negotiation session over GAO employees’ 2009 Performance Based Compensation (PBC) pay. Specifically, the negotiation addresses the budget factor that is used to calculate the PBC pay each employee receives based on their performance rating for FY 2008 and how the budget factor is applied. In the first negotiation session, GAO management offered a PBC budget factor of 2.0% for employees that received at least “meets expectations” on all competencies. They have since raised the offer to 2.3%. PBC budget factor issues under negotiation include the application of the Band IIB speed bump and pay range reductions from 2006 that reduce comparability with other federal employees.

Negotiations will continue today, Tuesday, April 14. Both parties have set aside time for several sessions this week. Although the pay increase will be applied retroactive to the beginning of the year, the GAO Union is eager to reach tentative agreement on the 2009 PBC pay negotiations for ratification by the Union membership as soon as possible. Considering the remarkable achievements of GAO employees in the past year, nimbly providing support to the U.S. Congress with increasingly challenging time lines and unexpected oversight responsibilities, the GAO Union is committed to negotiating a just and reasonable PBC budget factor that reflects the overall strength of our collective performance.

The PBC budget factor is one variable in a calculation used to determine performance pay, which also takes into account an alternative to the SRS score and analysts’ current pay in relation to the competitive rate for their respective pay bands. For example, employees paid below the competitive rate (roughly the halfway mark for each range, which varies by band and geographic zone) or that have higher overall ratings relative to their peers in their team and band will receive a larger percentage PBC increase, while those paid above the competitive rate or have a lower overall rating relative to their peers will receive a smaller percentage increase. (The PBC budget factor is applied to the competitive rate, not to an employee’s actual salary).

Spring Cleaning for gaoanalysts.org Website
You'll notice that our website looks a bit different. To make it easier to find information, we made our home page leaner; added new pages (Join Our Union, Elections); and renamed pages ("Legislative News" is now "On the Hill"; "Constitution, Internal Policies and Agreements" is now "Negotiated Agreements"). We also added a Search box to the home page to help you find what you need. We'll continue making changes to improve our web site.

Honorary Union Membership Bestowed to Tania Shand
On Tuesday, March 31st our Local, along with IFPTE national and the CRS IFPTE Local, presented former Staff Director of the House Workforce Subcommittee, Tania Shand, a plaque bestowing her honorary membership to the GAO Employees Organization, IFPTE Local 1921. Ms. Shand was critical in providing support to employees during the time of Union organizing that led to the establishment of the GAO Employees Organization, IFPTE Local 1921. It was during this time that she coordinated hearings for the House oversight committee that focused on problems in the implementation of GAO's performance management system. She was also essential to pushing the GAO Act of 2008 through Congress, which restored inflation protection to all GAO employees’ annual pay adjustments who meet expectations, as well as back pay for hundreds of GAO employees who were denied salary increases in prior years. We wish Ms. Shand all the best as she transitions to her new position as Director of Congressional Relations at the Office of Personal Management.

PDP Update: Performance Based Compensation (PBC) & Master Contract Negotiations
While the results of the current negotiations for the Performance Based Compensation (PBC) budget factor do not directly impact PDP employees’ pay while they remain in the two year program, the PBC negotiations will have an impact on the future pay of current PDP staff. As you know, PDP employees are evaluated under a performance rating system that is separate and distinct from that which applies to other bargaining unit employees in Band I and in Band II, IIA, and IIB. Two factors determine pay raises for PDP employees: (1) six month Performance Review Group (PRG) evaluations, where employee performance is measured against GAO’s core competencies, and (2) annual pay adjustments. The Union has already successfully negotiated and secured the 2009 Annual Pay Adjustment Agreement; the increases were equivalent to the General Schedule (GS) total increase by GS locality.

The PBC budget factor negotiations between GAO and the Union will reoccur annually. As PDP employees become permanently placed, they join the performance rating system of other Band Is and Band II, IIA, and IIBs, and are evaluated against both GAO’s core competencies and against their colleagues’ performance. Therefore, the outcome of the 2009 negotiations indirectly impact PDP employees, because the Union is establishing the foundation for future negotiations on their pay raises.

In addition to the budget factor negotiations, the Union is actively preparing for the approaching Master Contract negotiations which will address all aspects of employment at GAO. PDP employees have three representatives on the Union Assembly--Elke Kolodinski, Steve Robblee, and Sara Olds--who are intent on representing the needs and ideas of field, within, and among PDP employees. All perspectives are welcome- communicate what satisfies you, what concerns you, what should change--and what should not change--with your representatives!

PAST COMMUNIQUES:
04/03/09:  PBC Budget Factor Negotiations Begin Next Week
03/30/09:  GAO dispute resolution and grievance process discussion
03/16/09:  Selecting the new Comptroller General—Submit your comments for Congress
03/02/09:  GAO Employees Develop Alternative to SRS for 2009 Performance-Based Compensation
02/20/09:  FMA Assembly Delegate chosen, Union Assembly Officially Takes Office
02/02/09:  Management announces policy to streamline reports
01/27/09:  New Look Communique
01/16/09:  Assembly Election Schedule; Join the Union by January 30th to Vote
12/17/08:  Officer Election Results
12/15/08:  GAO Presents Initial 2009 Pay Proposal