APRIL 19, 2002


Giles Files
by
Duncan Giles
President
NTEU Chapter 49


On this and that.  First, in the Field we are in the process of completing the agreement for SB/SE support to Field Assistance.  Head negotiator on this issue RO Karen McKibben has done an outstanding job on this.  She is not just balancing the needs of SB/SE and W&I on this, she is also doing a great job to try and make this an agreement that both large and small PODs can live with.  Check out her account so far at our Web site at…

www.nteu49.org

At the call site, we are rounding up the air quality surveys and will be forwarding those on to GSA and the company that NTEU is working with for an analysis of how to best test from here.  It’s a matter of when & how at this point, not if.  Also, there was a meeting held on 4/2 at the call site with the landlord, HVAC folks, IRS Facilities & Management, GSA and last but not least NTEU on the air temperature variance in the building.  We hope to be doing some testing and getting this improved in short order.

Next is the Survey.  If you haven’t already take the time to read Cheryl Tolbert’s report on our Web site.  The only way we can get anything accomplished on this is to have as many voices as possible.  Think about this.  If you don’t take the Survey, the folks in D.C. assume you are happy……...          

Lastly, it’s time for the Steward Kudos….drum roll please…….for:  Sabrina Barton, Delores Bell, Teresa Bohnert, Scott Carder, Dean Crawford, Pam Fruggiero, Shawn Kennedy, Brian Kosteck, April Lopez-Roque, Karen McKibben, Fred Mecum, Clarence Mullins, Cheryl Tolbert, Cynthia Underwood, Donna Wolf and Susan Wright.

That’s it for now.

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SECTION 1203 RELIEF:
SETBACK


One of the biggest concerns of IRS workers nation-wide is Section 1203.  It’s the biggest morale killer one could imagine.  Congress has cooked up a penalty that applies to only one government agency (IRS).  Violating the “ten deadly sins” will mean—you’re fired.  So when there is potential action to change this draconian law, this is something that should interest us all.

Congress had an opportunity to change this, but dropped the ball due to an unrelated issue.  The House of Representatives voted down the piece of legislation (HR 3991) containing major changes in Section 1203 that would have benefited IRS workers.  NTEU National President Colleen Kelley said it best—”Fundamental fairness demands that IRS employees not be subject to this uniquely harsh standard.”  One would hope that these changes could be attached to another piece of legislation this year, but the chances now are not good.          




2003 PAY UPDATE


Here’s the latest on the continuing saga of the 2003 pay raise.  The White House proposed a 4.1% raise for the armed forces and a 2.6% pay hike for civilian federal workers.  Both houses of Congress came up with a budget resolution, which is a general roadmap for federal spending.  The heavy lifting comes later in the appropriations process.  But the early indications are good that federal workers will get the same average raise as the military—4.1%.  The Senate and House have both assumed the 4.1% raise for civilian federal employees in their budget resolutions.  But the real battle will come when the appropriations are considered in the Congressional committees.  It looks promising for a 4.1 average pay raise next year, but a lot can happen between now and September 30 (the end of the fiscal year).

The IRS is an agency that could have real budget problems next year.  This year’s budget woes have come about because of unexpected spending on security due to September 11th and other unforeseen strains on the spending plan.  70% of the IRS budget is pay for employees.  If Congress expects agencies to absorb the higher pay raise without additional funding, we could have another tough budget year in fiscal 2003.  That is something important to watch as the spending debate unfolds in the coming months.      





THE DEBT CEILING AND
THE TSP G FUND


Congress often has trouble passing legislation raising the debt limit.  Never mind that we have a war on terrorism going on.  The debt ceiling just creates nervous politicians for some reason.  When Congress went on its Easter recess without raising the debt limit, Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill said the debt ceiling limit would be reached.  Without Congressional approval for a debt ceiling limit increase, the United States of America would go into default for the first time in its history.  No treasury chief wants that to happen on his watch.  So Mr. O’Neill exercised a little-known law that allows the tapping of the Thrift Savings Plan G Fund to cover government debts until the debt limit situation can be worked out with Congress.  The money must be paid back with interest, based on the law.  This makes a few federal employees a bit nervous, since neither the Congress nor presidents have yet followed the federal pay laws in giving us our pay raises.  One would hope they would be more vigilant with our contributed retirement money.

Meanwhile, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley was beginning to get concerned about this.  When the Clinton Administration was forced to take this action, federal unions were briefed regularly on what was being done.  This White House has not said a word to any federal unions about this.  Colleen blames both the administration and Congress for jointly dropping the ball on the whole debt limit issue.  Let’s hope it’s all resolved soon and our G Fund money will be replaced.  With interest.