The Dawn of a New Era?

On December 9, 2009, President Obama signed Executive Order, CREATING LABOR-MANAGEMENT FORUMS TO IMPROVE DELIVERY OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES, which ushered in a new era of labor-management relations at federal agencies.   Last week, OCC and NTEU representatives began the formative steps of what we hope will become a new permanent labor-management “forum” at the OCC.   A major potential of this new forum is the pre-decisional union involvement in major decisions and initiatives at the OCC going forward.  Historically, the management maps out its plan or new initiative and then generally consults the union once close to implementation.  Consequently, the union often has had very little input or impact upon these decisions and as a result made “buy-in” more problematic.  Going forward, the union will be contacted more on the front-end of such initiatives and will provide input throughout the development process.

Another significant change resulting from this forum will be the union will be asked to participate even in those areas where management has not had legal obligation to formally bargain.  Historically, union objections to changes in decisions were acknowledged, but carried little weight as management would assert its right not to bargain.  While the executive order did not change management’s legal rights, the union will now have the opportunity to offer input, suggestions, and/or alternatives as decisions and plans are being developed.

Finally, members of OCC Executive Committee have agreed to participate in this forum, helping to demonstrate the commitment of the agency’s highest management level to making the forum productive and meaningful.   Likewise, NTEU is very excited about these changes and is also committed to ensuring that this forum becomes productive.

Like all relationships, building this forum will take time and require a level of trust.  Our first meeting was marked by periods of calm and outbursts, tension and laughter, and  trepidation and hope.  At the end of the day both parties left feeling positive about the meeting and with increased hopes of developing a more congenial relationship than heretofore has existed at the agency.  

The group obviously has a lot of work ahead of it in chartering out a course on how best to proceed.  But, it was a good beginning.  We are hopeful we have entered a new era at the OCC, which will become an important part of our next Comptroller’s legacy.

NTEU/OCC Open Mid-Term Contract Bargaining

For the first time since in the inception of our collective bargaining agreement (CBA), NTEU and OCC have elected to open mid-term negotiations on four articles.   The fact that we have gone four and half years without making substantive changes to the CBA speaks to how well the original contract has worked and performed.  

The mid-term bargaining does not represent a significant re-write on any of the articles, but allows both sides the opportunity to make changes when deemed appropriate.   The management bargaining team is being lead by Labor Advisor Jerry Lalu who was also the lead negotiating the original contract.  Likewise the OCC team is being lead by NTEU Negotiator Steve Keller who also led the employees’ team in the original negotiations.

Also on the management team:   David Baker (WED), Jurmell James (Labor Relations), Barbara Liggett (AIL), Ken Peyer (LBS) and Beverly Evans (HQ licensing).   The employees’ bargaining team consists of the five elected chapter presidents. 

Article 16 (work schedules), Article 18 (assignment of work), Article 19 (TeleWork) and Article 27 (Grievance Procedure) are the four articles that have been reopened.  The teams have exchanged and discussed their initial proposals.   The next steps are likely more discussion for clarification, exchange of counter proposals, and then a reconciliation process.  

Those Wretched Government Employees!

The press seems to be full of stories these days about those lazy government employees and the “need to cull the dead wood.”   Some members of Congress have even in joined in vilifying federal government workers.   NTEU has recently been successful in beating back two anti-Fed movements in Congress.  The first would have put an immediate pay freeze on all government workers (that 1.4% proposed increase for next year just looks too lucrative.)   The second would have put a freeze on the hiring of government workers (either new or replacements.)  

It is amazing how quickly certain members of Congress forget that the civilian government workers represent only 1.7 million in a country of over 300 million.   Judging from some comments even from congresspersons, an uninformed populace might get the impression that half the country was employed by the federal government and everyone was getting paid a lucrative salary.   While the OCC has independent pay authority, traditionally it has always followed suit on hiring freezes and is sensitive to the “appearance” of pay raises that are above that of the federal government.  

Does anyone anticipate that health care premium will only increase by 1.4% next year? Do members of congress even have a clue that they also are government employees?  Has it remotely crossed their mind that they also comprise a portion of the deadwood that exists in any segment of the public or private sectors?   

OCC Leaders attend NTEU Training

Many of the OCC union leaders recently attended the NTEU annual training conference.  These conferences provide the leaders with the skills they need to better perform their duties, including the processing of grievances.   NTEU put together a special tract this year for employees of the OCC, SEC and NCUA.  This tract turned out to be a huge success and helps build upon the collective representation we are gaining with the FIRREA community.  FDIC had a separate tract this year because of their new contract.   .

As always we want to hear your feedback, good, bad or indifferent. Write us at this website.

A seat at the table, professionalism and fair and equitable treatment of employees…union values that you can count on (through out the year)!!!