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07/14/09
Communique
Master Contract Preparation:
Preliminary Identification of Opportunities for Improvement
Continues--YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
The GAO Union is continuing to prepare for
upcoming master contract negotiations with GAO management, by gathering
preliminary data and identifying possible areas of improvement within
GAO as well as areas where existing policies work well--but we need
your energy, ideas, and help to make this process an unqualified
success!
Negotiating the master contract is perhaps the most important activity
a union local performs, because the Master Contract Agreement sets the
terms and conditions of work at GAO. Once the contract is set,
the terms and conditions established in the contract may not be changed
during its term unless both parties agree. Many issues can be
negotiated with GAO management to benefit employees, including:
- Family-friendly policies,
- telework policies,
- merit selection plans,
- compensatory time policies,
- aspects of performance management
procedures,
- and many more!
In order to find out what issues matter the most to the analyst and
specialist staff the GAO Union is continuing to gather data from GAO
Analysts. Beginning with preliminary meetings in the spring of
this year, the GAO Assembly has been coordinating research with Union
volunteers to gather information. This has included reviewing
existing master contracts from other agencies in the federal sector
including the master contract of the Congressional Research Service,
our IFPTE sister local in the legislative branch, and existing GAO
Orders. During this process, the Union is receiving legal and
training assistance from the professional staff at the IFPTE national
office, as well as legal research support through the labor law firm
Woodley & McGillivary. In addition, the GAO Union has been
working with GAO management to set the stage for the negotiation
process by working on a set of basic ground rules, including a
tentative schedule and bargaining process.
Of course, WE NEED YOU to help ensure the success of this
process. Please contact any Union
Assembly Delegate representative or officer if you want to get in
early and help identify opportunities for positive change within
GAO--either with your comments or with your help in conducting research
on what's needed for change.
GAO ACG Gene Dodaro and GAO Union President
Ron La Due Lake to speak at Intern Ice Cream Social, July 15, 2009,
Staats Briefing Room
GAO's Acting CG, Gene Dodaro,
will be speaking to this summer’s intern staff at the annual Ice Cream
Social, today, July 14, 2009, in the Staats Briefing Room.
Employee Organizations will also be present to tell interns about their
organizations and opportunities for employees to get involved.
Ron La Due Lake will to discuss the role of the Union at GAO. If
you are an intern or if you know an intern, you are INVITED TO ATTEND!
PDP pay negotiations
continue
The GAO
Union expects to begin negotiations with GAO over PDP pay raises later
this month. GAO proposed changes to the PDP raise processes in an
order that went out for comment in May. The GAO’s proposal would have
slightly increased top raise amounts and eliminated performance ratings
as a factor in raise calculations, provided that analysts received at
least “meets expectations” in all competencies. The proposed
design would have created parity with the developmental programs for
communication analysts and professional and technical staff.
When
the comment period ended, a memo from Gene Dodaro explained that GAO
would postpone any action on the proposed change to PDP pay “in order
to allow for additional discussions with the GAO Employees
Organization, IFPTE, Local 1921.” The GAO union has never taken a
position for or against this proposal and has not yet participated in
any negotiation on this issue, though we hope negotiations will begin
soon.
If you
have questions or want to provide input on this issue, please
contact your union representative or one of the PDP delegates whose
contact information is listed below:
- Elke
Kolodinski (Field PDP-among staff): elke_kolodinski@hotmail.com, or
kolodinskie@gao.gov
- Sara
Olds (Headquarters PDP-among staff): sara.k.olds@gmail.com or
oldss@gao.gov
- Steve
Robblee (PDP-within staff): steve_robblee@yahoo.com, or
robblees@gao.gov
PAST
COMMUNIQUES:
06/19/09: GAO policy on
compensatory time
06/02/09: PBC pay to be
Processed Soon Using Alternative to SRS
05/27/09: Help
Improve GAO: Volunteer as a Union Representative on Management
Initiatives
05/05/09: GAO Union testifies
before House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative
Branch Subcommittee
04/20/09: GAO Union
Reaches Tentative Agreement with Management
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