AFGE Week in Review (June 3, 2009)

TSOs, AFGE Press Administration for Collective Bargaining Rights: American Federation of Government Employees President John Gage earlier this month called the White House to request that the administration fulfill its promise to AFGE regarding collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Officers. While understanding that the president has a lot on his plate, AFGE stressed that the TSOs have waited long enough. Seeking to bring yet more pressure to bear on this matter, AFGE last week sent to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano 1,000 signatures from TSOs across the country, asking for an immediate grant of collective bargaining rights. Another 1,000 signatures will be sent this week.

USDA Ordered to Compensate Food Inspector for Higher Grade Work: AFGE recently won back pay for a food inspector who was detailed to do higher-grade work without proper compensation. The GS-8 food inspector, who is a member of AFGE Local 2150 in Indiana, was detailed to perform duties of a GS-9 twice a week for more than a year. He requested to be paid accordingly, but his request was denied. AFGE subsequently filed a grievance on his behalf, alleging violation of labor-management agreement. The Agriculture Department argued that he should not be given back pay because there was no disciplinary action against him that caused him to lose pay and that he wasn't qualified for the higher position. The agency claimed he would also have had to work 60 consecutive days to receive back pay in the higher grade. The arbitrator, however, sided with AFGE. He ruled the agency violated the labor-management agreement when it refused to pay the employee for the higher grade work and that the grievant was entitled to a temporary promotion for the work performed during the preceding seven months.

Houston TSO Reinstated: AFGE last week won a case in which a Houston Transportation Security Officer was wrongfully removed for allegedly failing to follow leave procedures and instructions. AFGE appealed the TSO's termination with TSA's Disciplinary Review Board, which overturned the removal.

VA Police Officer's Suspension Reduced:  An arbitrator recently ruled that a Louisiana Veterans Affairs hospital's decision to suspend a VA police officer for 13 days for unauthorized display of VA police credentials could not be justified. The officer is a member of AFGE Local 1972.      

Inside Government: A new task force designed to review the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) was discussed last week on AFGE's radio show "Inside Government". AFGE General Counsel Mark Roth explained the new task force and AFGE's reaction to its creation. Roth also detailed the history of NSPS and why AFGE wants the pay-for-performance system to be eliminated. Darryl Moch, executive director of the Labor Heritage Foundation, previewed the Great Labor Arts Exchange and Conference on Creative Organizing scheduled for June 20 – 23. Moch also discussed Camp Solidarity for children and youth ages 7 – 14. To find out more about these events, designed to strengthen the labor movement through art and creativity, please visit www.laborheritage.org.

Also appearing on the show was Richard N. Haass, author of "War of Necessity, War of Choice: A Memoir of Two Iraq Wars." Haass, who served in senior positions for President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush, analyzed the decisions that lead to both Iraq wars and offer unique insight to the role of a senior government official during a time of war. Haass also shared his dissenting opinion for the second Iraq war, one he calls a "war of choice."

"Inside Government" - hosted by AFGE Assistant General Counsel J. Ward Morrow - airs on Fridays at 10 a.m. EDT nationwide on Federal News Radio at www.federalnewsradio.com and 1500 AM in the Washington, D.C., area. Programs are archived on the Federal News Radio Web site and can be heard on demand at www.federalnewsradio.com or www.afge.org/insidegovernment. Please note there will be a short advertisement prior to the start of the program. The program also airs on Saturdays at 7 a.m. on KTKK 630 AM, "The Voice of Utah," in Ogden, Utah sponsored by AFGE Local 1592.