September 19, 2003

GILES FILES
By
Duncan Giles
President
NTEU Chapter 49

On this and that…..

First, I would like to tell all our Chapter 49 members that I will remain steadfast to my commitment to do the best I can for the next 2 years as President.  I will continue to work hard on behalf of all our members and work to protect our rights in this increasingly tough atmosphere.

Now to awards.  If you are experiencing problems (I.e. you should have gotten an award but it didn’t come through) contact the Employee Resource Center (ERC) right away and let your manager know.  If you don’t get good answers please feel free to contact Chapter 49 at our e-mail address - nteu49@aol.com - and we’ll assist you.

It’s CFC time again.  NTEU both locally and nationally support the Combined Federal Campaign.  It’s a great way to contribute to your favorite cause.  Please give if you can.

The recent Congressional votes on the A-76 process (outsourcing or handing out our jobs to private sector contractors) in the House and overtime rules in the Senate that newsletter Editor Larry Lannan writes about elsewhere in this issue are very important steps in trying to rein in the administration’s apparent goal to put up for bid whatever government work they can.  The White House states it’s just trying to make government better but their actions belie their words.

The start of national discussions on SB/SE Case Processing and to a lesser extent Insolvency are proving very interesting from what I hear.  The main question that NTEU is asking is—how will centralizing these functions improve the Service?  Seems a simple question but as yet it hasn’t been answered by IRS.  NTEU is not being obstructionist but we feel it’s our job both nationally and locally to continually let management know where we see no benefit to employees or the IRS mission.  This is one of those cases where we hope reason prevails.

We have asked that this and future newsletters be sent to all Indiana IRS employees via e-mail.  This will ensure that everyone gets it.  This has gone to IRS national so we are hopeful of hearing something by the end of this month. Just remember our up-to-the-minute news and lots more can always be found at our Chapter 49  Web site at www.nteu49.org.                      

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Ginger Hamman and her family.  Ginger is a long-time member from the Call Site who had a series of strokes while vacationing in Idaho.  We wish her a swift recovery.

Lastly, Indiana has lost a good man.  Whether you agreed with Governor Frank O’Bannon’s policies or not, no one can dispute the gentle manner and class with which he carried himself.  I knew him slightly for about a dozen years and whenever our paths would cross he always gave me a smile in recognition and a hello.  That sort of genuine warmth is not seen enough in politics today.  Frank O’Bannon should be held up as a shining example of being a true public servant.


That’s it for now.


             
KELLEY, FERRIS EASILY WIN
REELECTION AT CONVENTION

NTEU National President Colleen Kelley and National Executive Vice President Frank Ferris have been elected to new four-year terms by national convention delegates. Both had token opposition and each won reelection with well over 90% of the vote.  Chapter President Duncan Giles served on the Nominations and Election Committee at the national convention.  Chapter 49 congratulates Colleen Kelley and Frank Ferris on their reelection.

NTEU is divided into districts, with national vice presidents representing the chapters within their respective districts on the NTEU national executive committee. Chapter 49 is in District 2. Our district vice president Jerry Thompson won re-election by a wide margin.

The convention delegates also voted to hold the 2007 convention in New York City.  The previous convention voted to hold the 2005 session in San Diego.

Chapter 49 President Duncan Giles and Vice President Susan Wright served as our local delegates to the national convention.

 


KEY CONGRESSIONAL VOTES

There is plenty of news in Congress impacting us.  The House has voted to give federal workers an average 4.1% pay hike in 2004, despite the White House position that we should receive only a 2% raise.  The Senate Appropriations Committee has also voted to provide the 4.1% raise next year.  A full Senate vote has not been scheduled as we go to press.  

The White House is threatening a veto of the House measure not because of the pay raise, but because the Van Hollen amendment was passed in the House.  The amendment would throw out new rules on contracting out our jobs to the private sector through new competition rules that put federal workers at a big disadvantage.  The Van Hollen amendment would require agencies to use the old rules that were much more fair to the federal work force.  The Senate has yet to speak on this issue.  Our NTEU Legislative Department is working hard on this issue.  If you feel strongly about this, don’t hesitate to contact Senators Lugar and Bayh.  Meanwhile, NTEU National President Colleen Kelley has sent a letter to the White House asking that (in light of the Congressional votes) the administration should slow down the heated pace of contracting efforts.

The Senate has also voted to stop the Labor Department from issuing new rules that could stop or limit overtime pay for many workers in America, including federal employees.  The House version of the bill does not contain this provision so a conference committee will have to decide whether the Senate overtime language will be contained in the final piece of legislation.





HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS
UP 10.6% IN 2004

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced that health insurance premiums will increase an average 10.6% in 2004.  That means on the average this will cost federal workers about $5 more per pay.  For a link to all the 2004 premiums for each health plan, check our chapter Web site at www.nteu49.org.   NTEU National President Colleen Kelley said these large annual increases in premiums “not only are unfair to federal workers in that they far outstrip any pay increase they receive, they serve as a serious impediment to successful recruiting and retention efforts by the federal government.”  Kelley said NTEU will redouble efforts in the Congress to increase the government’s share of the health insurance costs.      




 DON'T FORGET
SELF ASSESSMENTS

All IRS employees have an important tool at their disposal to help when it comes time for the annual performance appraisal.  NTEU negotiated a tool available on the IRS internal system (Intranet) to help employees prepare self assessments to be considered by the manager when writing your evaluation.  This tool is located on the AWSS part of the IRS Intranet.  If you need help finding the site, e-mail a Chapter 49 officer or steward for help.  This is a valuable tool to help you raise your evaluation, and it's there because NTEU went to the bargaining table and got it for you.  



   
TELL US HOW WE’RE DOING

Chapter 49 communicates with IRS employees in Indiana a number of ways.  We give presentations at meetings.  We attend survey meetings and ask for your comments.  We have a Web site (www.nteu49.org) that is updated on a regular basis to give you the most up-to-date information.  And, of course, this newsletter is a major mode of communicating with you.  But Chapter 49 speaking to you is only part of communications.  We also want to hear from you.  

You can contact Chapter 49 a number of ways.  You can e-mail any steward or officer of the chapter using the internal IRS e-mail system.  You can call the union office at 317-226-6841.  If no one is in the office when you call, leave us a message and we’ll get back to you as quickly as we can.  You can e-mail us outside the IRS e-mail system (nteu49@aol.com).  If you have any comments or questions on this newsletter, our Web site, or anything else we do, please feel free to let us know.  We value your opinions.