Special Communiqué for Monday, April 20, 2009

GAO Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with Management – 2009 PBC Pay
The GAO Union and GAO management reached tentative agreement on the 2009 Performance-Based Compensation (PBC) pay. The GAO Union was committed to moving quickly on negotiating this year’s PBC payout and reached this tentative agreement with GAO management in a week and a half. In all pay negotiations to date, the GAO Union has sought to achieve, as a minimum, pay parity with the Executive Branch. In this latest round of PBC negotiation, the Union also sought recognition of GAO employees’ outstanding performance during 2008, and a guarantee that every GAO employee who achieved a rating of meets expectations or above during the FY 2008 rating period receives appropriate recognition for their performance through pay.

This tentative agreement is now subject to ratification (via online vote) by all members of the GAO Employees Organization, IFPTE Local 1921. The Union Assembly believes that our objectives have been achieved to the greatest extent possible and recommends ratification.

This tentative agreement would result in a larger increase for GAO employees on average than many other federal employees will receive this year. For example, many employees under the General Schedule (GS) system receive the federal across the board adjustment for their locality plus an estimated 2.0% salary increase on average. This year, GAO employees have received an across the board adjustment equivalent to the GS locality and will now receive an additional 2.65% on average if this agreement is ratified.

This tentative agreement significantly improves upon management’s initial proposal – a 2.0% budget factor used in the calculation of the PBC portion of our salaries. It also provides that the Band IIB speed bump does not apply; uses an alternative to the SRS score that ensures minimal differences in performance are not exaggerated; and establishes that PBC pay will be retroactive to January 4, 2009.

Finally, it is important to the Union that every employee who meets expectations receives at least an appropriate minimum amount of performance-based compensation because of everyone’s contributions to GAO’s FY 2008 achievements. The range of PBC pay employees in the bargaining unit will receive is from 1.2% to 4.2% of their applicable competitive rate, depending on their performance rating. Those who meet expectations or better – 99% of employees in the bargaining unit – will receive a raise of at least 1.5% of the competitive rate (salary) for their band level.

A summary of the tentative agreement follows:

PBC: 2.65% budget factor used in determining the PBC salary increase for all staff except those in the PDP or CAPP programs,* who meet expectations or better. Any PBC earned in excess of the applicable salary caps will be provided as a cash payout. However, the Band IIB speed bump does not apply.

SRS alternative: The PBC percentage for an employee will be determined by subtracting the employee’s comparison group average from the employee’s appraisal average and then adding the PBC budget factor (2.65). The resulting percentage is applied to the relevant competitive rate for the employee’s band and geographic zone.

Retroactivity: All salaries will be retroactive to January 4, 2009.
   *Note: PDP and CAPP employees receive salary increases through the separate PRG system.

Where can I learn more?
The union will hold the following information sessions with slides and examples:

Thursday, April 23 @ 12:00 pm EST with:
  • HQ Room 5N30
  • Atlanta Third Room
  • Boston Second Room
  • Dayton Main Room
  • Huntsville Main Room
  • Norfolk Main Room
Phone participants call audio bridge 866-726-5318, passcode 5016366

Monday, April 27 @ 3:30 EST with:
  • HQ Room 2197
  • Chicago Second Room
  • Dallas Third Room
  • Denver Main Room
  • Los Angeles Second Room
  • Seattle Main Room
Phone participants call audio bridge 866-725-9487, passcode 9622885

Please plan to attend. For questions in the meanwhile, please feel free to contact your elected representative.

What's Next?
Members of the GAO Union will vote on whether they wish to ratify this agreement by online voting. Members will receive an email with a link to their ballot Thursday afternoon, and the voting will end 8:00PM (EST) on May 1. If you are a member, and you do not receive a ballot by Friday, April 24, or have problems voting, please contact Todd Anderson, Election Committee Chair, at [AndersonTD@gao.gov] or Secretary Lee Carroll at [Carrolll@gao.gov].

For information about becoming a member of the GAO Union, IFPTE Local 1921, please see your elected representative to join or find the forms on our website.

PAST COMMUNIQUES:
04/13/09:  PBC Pay Negotiations Continue
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