BAND TOGETHER
COMMUNIQUÉ 

Interim Council Election Nomination Deadline Extended to November 21^st

Nominations must be received by Wednesday, November 21, 2007, via email to gaonominations@ifpte.org  no later than 10:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. 

The Interim Council will:

1)      Assist in drafting the by-laws and permanent constitution for the bargaining unit.

2)      Coordinate union representation at formal meetings between managers and bargaining unit members during which grievances, policies or working conditions are discussed.

3)      Represent bargaining unit members in negotiations with management regarding terms and conditions of employment.

4)      Formulate a bargaining unit position on salary increases for bargaining unit members.

5)      Inform bargaining unit members about Council activities and seek, understand and communicate the views of bargaining unit members to the Council, to management, and to Congress.

Additional information on eligibility, the role of Interim Council members, the election timetable, election rules and attachments may be found at www.gaoanalysts.org, under the “Election Committee” heading.  If you have any problems accessing the election materials, please contact Election Committee Chairs Terry Saiki at saikit@gao.gov and Paul Wright at wrightp@gao.gov.

Questions for Candidates

What questions would you like to ask the candidates running for seats on the Interim Council?  To assist with communication across our many teams and field locations, we plan to organize and consolidate your questions and send them to the candidates. We intend to post candidates' responses on the GAO Analysts website, www.gaoanalysts.org.

Please send your questions to John Bumgarner (DCM-Norfolk, bumgarnerj@gao.gov) or Rod Rodgers (DCM-HQ, rodgersr@gao.gov) by Monday, November 19, 2007 no later than noon Eastern Standard Time.

African American Performance Assessment Study Update

A working group meeting with Ivy Planning Group is planned during the week of November 16^th to obtain an update on their efforts and also to share questions and concerns.  Thereafter, the working group hopes to meet with Ivy at least once every two weeks. 

Please send your questions about the AAPAS to Mary Crenshaw (EWIS-HQ, CrenshawM@GAO.GOV), George Duncan (DCM-HQ, DuncanG@GAO.GOV), Angela Pleasants (PDP-Denver, PleasantsA@GAO.GOV), or Le Sonya Roberts (FMCI-HQ, RobertsLR@GAO.GOV).

Committee Updates

Elections Committee

The Election Committee is still looking for volunteers.  Several individuals have expressed interest in serving on the Election Committee, but more volunteers are needed across all teams and field offices.  To volunteer, please contact Paul Wright (EWIS-HQ, wrightp@gao.gov) or Terry Saiki (HC-Seattle, saikit@gao.gov).

Committee Chairs and Members

Communications Committee

Co-Chairs:  Shaunessye Curry (HC-Chicago, currys@gao.gov) and Regina Santucci (EWIS-HQ, santuccir@gao.gov)

Members:  John Bumgarner (DCM-Norfolk), Shaunessye Curry (HC-Chicago), Angela Pleasants (PDP-Denver), Rod Rodgers (DCM-HQ), Regina Santucci (EWIS-HQ), and Kathryn Smith (DCM-HQ).

Data Committee

Co-Chairs:  Beverly Ross (ARM-HQ, RossBA@GAO.GOV) and Barry Kirby (FMCI-Chicago, Kirbyb@GAO.GOV)

Members:  Orlando Copeland (HSJ-HQ), Carrie Davidson (HC-HQ), Sandra Davis (NRE-Denver), George Duncan (DCM-HQ), Barry Kirby (FMCI-Chicago), Daniel Meyer (EWIS-Chicago), Rhiannon Patterson (ARM-HQ), Jennifer Rellick (HC-HQ), Beverly Ross (ARM-HQ) and Jerome Sandau (ARM-HQ).

Election Committee

Co-Chairs: Paul Wright (EWIS-HQ, wrightp@gao.gov) and Terry Saiki (HC-Seattle, saikit@gao.gov)

Members:  Ann Baker (IAT-HQ), Lee Carroll (NRE-Denver), Emily Chalmers (FMCI-HQ), Carrie Davidson (HC-HQ), Daniel Egan (FMA-Denver), Angela Pleasants (PDP-Denver), Terence Saiki (HC-Seattle), Kathleen White (EWIS-HQ),  and Paul Wright (EWIS-HQ).

Call for COMMUNIQUÉ Contributions

The Communications Committee is soliciting contributions to the GAO union’s official newsletter. If you are scheduling a union-related meeting or have a union-related announcement and would like to ensure that the information is circulated throughout the bargaining unit, please forward the information to Shaunessye Curry (HC-Chicago, currys@gao.gov ) or Regina Santucci (EWIS-HQ, santuccir@gao.gov) by 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) on Wednesday, November 21 for inclusion in the next edition.

Get Active Action Center - Give the IFPTE feedback

As we get more volunteers, we have better ideas. To assist Analysts in advancing their rights and representation within GAO, we have developed an advocacy tool to allow Analysts to send feedback on local union governance matters. GAO Analysts are encouraged to sign up for the Action Center if they haven't already done so at www.unionvoice.org/gaoanalysts/home.html.