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Post by roymcavoy on Sept 30, 2019 12:45:09 GMT -5
I didn’t see this anywhere else, but the new COSS sent out an email on Friday announcing that SSA and AFGE had reached a six year union agreement that takes effect on Oct 27. I looked but could not find it, but in searching found an email from the ALJ Union head that noted “AFGE agreed to a six year contract with a 50% reduction in their official time hours, as well as to their members' telework being at Agency discretion.”
That email also notes that David Black was confirmed as Dep Commish.
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Post by icemaster on Sept 30, 2019 13:16:44 GMT -5
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Post by roymcavoy on Sept 30, 2019 13:43:52 GMT -5
Thanks for the update and link!
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Post by lawyeredbylaws on Sept 30, 2019 13:49:59 GMT -5
Welp, there goes telework for anyone with AFGE. This agreement is why people don't pay union dues. They accepted the management favorable FSIP decision except for carving out perks for the union. AFGE would have been much better off letting SSA implement the FSIP unilaterally, like what has happened at other agencies, and then signing a new contract once there are more favorable people in the executive branch.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2019 14:44:03 GMT -5
Welp, there goes telework for anyone with AFGE. This agreement is why people don't pay union dues. They accepted the management favorable FSIP decision except for carving out perks for the union. AFGE would have been much better off letting SSA implement the FSIP unilaterally, like what has happened at other agencies, and then signing a new contract once there are more favorable people in the executive branch. I do not believe telework will be gone. It will just be more limited or come with many more strings. There is really no proper way to deal with an administration whose political mandate was and is to drain the swamp AKA federal bureaucracy. The same folks that do not want to pay union does are oftentimes the ones that vote for candidates who do not have their interests in mind. AALJ will be the next one to have this six year contract and complete management control over telework shoved down its throat and told to love it |
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Post by oddis on Sept 30, 2019 15:19:24 GMT -5
LOL at Charles Hall pretending as if the Commissioner was doing this because of the Democrats. Why exactly? The Administration got everything they wanted. The Democrats did/will do nothing. This union is a complete joke and anyone who is still paying dues to them is a sucker.
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Post by tripper on Sept 30, 2019 15:39:12 GMT -5
Welp, there goes telework for anyone with AFGE. This agreement is why people don't pay union dues. They accepted the management favorable FSIP decision except for carving out perks for the union. AFGE would have been much better off letting SSA implement the FSIP unilaterally, like what has happened at other agencies, and then signing a new contract once there are more favorable people in the executive branch. I do not believe telework will be gone. It will just be more limited or come with many more strings. There is really no proper way to deal with an administration whose political mandate was and is to drain the swamp AKA federal bureaucracy. The same folks that do not want to pay union does are oftentimes the ones that vote for candidates who do not have their interests in mind. AALJ will be the next one to have this six year contract and complete management control over telework shoved down its throat and told to love itAt what management level do we think this control will be asserted? |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2019 15:44:14 GMT -5
At what management level do we think this control will be asserted? My bet would be region. |
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Post by theadjudicator on Sept 30, 2019 17:40:47 GMT -5
In my humble opinion, Regional management will run a report and tell local management whether they feel an individual's performance warrants telework. Then it will be up to local management to explain why the individual should remain in the telework program if deficiencies are seen at the Regional level.
Ultimately, if the Region does not agree with local management then telework will be gone until whatever parameters are met by the employee wanting to telework. My WAG is employees will end up having to submit something similar to the semi annual leave requests AFGE employees already do (i.e., apply to re-enroll every 6 months).
I also bet telework will be based off of whatever the production standard is that the employee falls under, DWPI (decision writers) or SAAPI (senior attorneys). - TA
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Post by roymcavoy on Sept 30, 2019 19:08:41 GMT -5
In my humble opinion, Regional management will run a report and tell local management whether they feel an individual's performance warrants telework. Then it will be up to local management to explain why the individual should remain in the telework program if deficiencies are seen at the Regional level. Ultimately, if the Region does not agree with local management then telework will be gone until whatever parameters are met by the employee wanting to telework. My WAG is employees will end up having to submit something similar to the semi annual leave requests AFGE employees already do (i.e., apply to re-enroll every 6 months). I also bet telework will be based off of whatever the production standard is that the employee falls under, DWPI (decision writers) or SAAPI (senior attorneys). - TA there are are also offices who depend on telework to preclude having to increase the footprint of the office. Allowing a local decision re telework allows Heavensville to keep telework in place despite whatever production requirements are not being met while also allowing Hellsville to force the non-producers to show up on Brimstone Blvd everyday |
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Post by rightspeech on Oct 1, 2019 7:41:14 GMT -5
Its not going to be individual at least not at first. When you take individualized actions you open up any person to file EEO alleging they are being discriminated against. There's gonna be different rules for different positon descriptions. writers have to have x dwpi to telework x days per week. scts have to do y for y days.
I would think ALJs would want this. AFGE is mostly the SCTs, their telework is going to be reduced because the work is more difficult than writer work to track and because ALJs have been complaining about a lack of in office support since they went to 3x per week. I think this mostly hits SCTs and HOSAs |
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Post by mercury on Oct 1, 2019 8:35:04 GMT -5
Its not going to be individual at least not at first. When you take individualized actions you open up any person to file EEO alleging they are being discriminated against. There's gonna be different rules for different positon descriptions. writers have to have x dwpi to telework x days per week. scts have to do y for y days.
I would think ALJs would want this. AFGE is mostly the SCTs, their telework is going to be reduced because the work is more difficult than writer work to track and because ALJs have been complaining about a lack of in office support since they went to 3x per week. I think this mostly hits SCTs and HOSAs While I generally agree with this assessment, I would note that the entirety of the Appeals Council, from legal assistants to Appeals Officers, as well as hundreds, if not thousands of decision writers, are in AFGE. |
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Post by caroline on Oct 1, 2019 16:18:34 GMT -5
In my humble opinion, Regional management will run a report and tell local management whether they feel an individual's performance warrants telework. Then it will be up to local management to explain why the individual should remain in the telework program if deficiencies are seen at the Regional level. Ultimately, if the Region does not agree with local management then telework will be gone until whatever parameters are met by the employee wanting to telework. My WAG is employees will end up having to submit something similar to the semi annual leave requests AFGE employees already do (i.e., apply to re-enroll every 6 months). I also bet telework will be based off of whatever the production standard is that the employee falls under, DWPI (decision writers) or SAAPI (senior attorneys). - TA |
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Post by caroline on Oct 1, 2019 16:20:36 GMT -5
Theadjudicator is spot on at least in my office. Region calls looking to take away telework and hocalj makes your. Add to keep it.
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Post by Pixie on Oct 1, 2019 16:29:45 GMT -5
Theadjudicator is spot on at least in my office. Region calls looking to take away telework and hocalj makes your. Add to keep it. If you want to quote another poster, click on quote as you did. When the message to be quoted pops up, place your cursor just after the ] symbol following the word "quote" and left click. You will then be ready to type your message. When finished, hit "enter" and your message, following the quoted passage will appear. Pixie |
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Post by caroline on Oct 1, 2019 16:40:26 GMT -5
Hocalj makes your case. Sorry for the sloppy post
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Post by Wynona Writer on Oct 2, 2019 11:08:25 GMT -5
Any insider information on the agreement with NTEU?
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Updog
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Do I know what rhetorical means?!?
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Post by Updog on Oct 2, 2019 13:25:21 GMT -5
A timely question. This hot off the email press from Comm Saul:
A Message to SSA Employees
Subject: National Agreement between SSA and NTEU
I am pleased to announce that we have reached agreement with NTEU on a new six-year contract, which will be effective on November 10, 2019. I thank the NTEU and agency negotiation teams for their professionalism during the many months of hard work resulting in an agreement that supports improved public service. You will receive more information about the substance of the contract soon.
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Post by theadjudicator on Oct 2, 2019 18:49:26 GMT -5
With respect to the NTEU contract, there is a deal on all articles excluding telework. That issue is being decided by the impasse panel as to how that will end up shaking out.
In general, the current contract is more or less the same contract that NTEU already operates under with some minor changes. Stay tuned for the next day or two bc there should be some more official information being provided to those affected by the new contract - TA
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Post by oddis on Oct 2, 2019 21:19:50 GMT -5
So AFGE now has telework that is totally at the discretion of management and 95% DWPI.
Management has sole decision making authority on whether overtime or credit can be performed on telework.
Not sure how this could have gone worse for attorneys.
The union officers should at least have the decency to resign.
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