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AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES LOCAL 3529
http://afge-local3529.org/
325 MCDONNELL BLVD., MAILCODE S3064290
HAZELWOOD, MO. 63042-2598
Telephone: (314) 233-3752
Fax: (314) 233-6648
August 21, 2003

Members:
Here is some news on various issues:

National Convention

Bob McCarthy and I are here representing the Union. There is a bombshell. Bobby Harnage was defeated in his bid for reelection. The votes went like this:

Women’s Director:
Andrea Brooks won by acclamation (No one ran against her)

National Secretary-Treasurer:
Jim Davis 99,046
Eugene Martin 65,080

National President 1st Ballot:
Bobby Harnage 71,950
John Gage 67,184
T.J. Bonner 14,899
Mary Love 11,064

National President 2nd Ballot:
John Gage 84,248
Bobby Harnage 73,710

Bob and I both voted for T.J. Bonner on the 1st ballot and John Gage on the 2nd ballot. Harnage gave an “elect me for 3 more years and then I’ll retire” speech. Gage gave a great speech about how we should get “in the face” of the Bush administration and congress and quit taking it on Homeland Security etc. The perception is that Harnage “fiiddled while Rome burned” ala Nero.

On the Consolidation of Units issue, I spoke with Gage and told him about the issue. He said he would work with me on it. I believe he will follow through on it or tell me to get lost rather than sitting on his thumb as Harnage did. I also spoke with Don Hale, the Chairman of the Defense Conference (DEFCON) about the issue. He pledged his support. I am a member of the 12 member DEFCON steering group. DEFCON controls about 40% of the total AFGE votes. However, they have not been a cohesive unit as is the VA, Social Security, Border Patrol, and Prison Guard caucuses have been. I hope that will change. We are currently working on resolutions. The big ones concern per capita dues increases and/or assessments for a media campaign to get our message out to the American people.

John Sweeney, President of AFL-CIO, gave a great speech at a Monday Luncheon. He called the Bush administration a “band of thugs.” He pledged to work on Bush’s defeat in 2004. We also heard from Linda Chavez Thompson, Executive Vice President AFL-CIO at the Women’s Fair Practice breakfast as well as at an overall delegate luncheon.

Contract Negotiations

These negotiations are still at the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) stage. We submitted our final Statements of Position on 2/14/03. We filed an Unfair Labor Practice over Management’s refusal to provide information crucial to the Statement of Position. The Dallas FLRA office issued a complaint on the issue. I petitioned the FSIP to grant a reconsideration of our position after we get the data. The FSIP has so far refused.

Official Time Issue:

I filed a ULP over Management’s unilateral change in past practice concerning the approval of official time for Steve Schwartzberg, Bob McCarthy and me. Steve Schwartzberg recently retired rather than put up with the hassled caused by Frank Summers and his henchpersons. The FLRA representative felt the case for the Union President was particularly strong since the President has been 100% official time for me entire tenure (10/1/98 forward) and most of Bob Wiesmann’s Presidency (10/1/90 – 9/30/98). My supervisor had issued a CAS 418 assignment with varying due dates for the risk assessment as well as the overall assignment. Last Friday, my supervisor withdrew the assignment and assigned it to someone else. This was one day after the FLRA representative told Management they were ready to issue a complaint on the issue. Management has offered to not assign more assignments unless “exigencies of the public business” occur. They also want to negotiate over the issue in hopes of bringing the practice in line with the collective bargaining agreement. I will not settle unless Management pays me back for work I did at home. I would accept 24 credit hours. So far Management has not accepted that offer.

Mid-term Bargaining:
The Executive Board appointed Bob McCarthy as Chief Steward and Jack Bradley as Vice President of Communications. Jack will replace Steve on the Union negotiation team.

1. DoD Child Care issue
The FLRA had issued an Unfair Labor Practice complaint against Management for refusing to bargain over this issue. We settled the ULP by agreeing to move the issue to the top of the bargaining queue. We recently had bargaining sessions on the issue. The issue has been sent to the FSIP. Management wants to limit the program to 3 years. We have other minor differences. The problem has always been about money.

2. OPM based Child Care:
We still have a negotiability appeal on this issue. Management claims this is outside the duty to bargain because it would violate terms of the DoD Child Care regulations.

3. IT/OPS audit reorganization:
Management wants to move this work form FAOs back to the regional office. They want IT/OPS Technical Specialists to remain under FAO supervision even though they will perform only regional IT/OPS work.

Other issues:

Recruiting
Student Loan Repayment Program
Debt Collection Improvement Act
Peer Reviews of audit W/Ps and Reports
Insider Threat Awareness Training
CD Application Installer Issue
TRAIN System Issue
Exit Interview Issue
Travel Card Deployment Issue
Travel Card split disbursement issue

My supervisor gave me a written reprimand for alleged violations of the “Use of Government Equipment” agreement by sending e-mails to the Western and Mid-Atlantic regions during the FLRA election process as well as “failure to follow a directive” in that I sent a mass mailing in violation of an Ed Nelson letter. The grievance hearing is August 29th (next Friday). Pat Faul will be representing me at the hearing. The agency has assigned a Defense Legal Services attorney Delduco. We have various other arbitrations scheduled for the near future. They include such topics as Team awards, inclement weather in Wichita and the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

Ray Downey
President
AFGE Local 3529