Pay Bargaining
Update
On Thursday,
January 24, 2008, the union submitted its pay adjustment counter
proposal and financial data request to management (see
COMMUNIQUÉ dated January 24,
2008). At that time, the parties confirmed that both the
union and management bargaining teams were available for
negotiations starting Friday, January 25 and continuing through
February 1, 2008. On Monday, January 28, management
notified the union that it would be prepared to begin
face-to-face negotiations at 9:00 AM Wednesday, January 30 and
continue through Thursday, January 31.
The bargaining teams met yesterday morning (Wednesday)
starting at 9:00 AM. The teams continued discussions at
three more sessions Wednesday morning, afternoon and evening,
and broke at about 7:00 PM. When no further progress could
be made on Wednesday, the parties agreed to adjourn to allow the
management team to consult with the GAO Executive Committee.
The parties do not have a meeting time set for Thursday,
although the union team will be available starting at 9:00
AM.
Support for Parity with
D.C.-Based Executive
Branch
The Majority Leader, House Oversight and Appropriations
Chairs joined other Members of Congress to support a 4.49%
annual adjustment for GAO workers who meet or exceed
expectations. In a letter dated January 30, 2008, Members
of Congress urged Comptroller General Walker to grant GAO
employees the same 4.49% annual across the board increase
granted to Executive Branch employees (and CRS employees) this
year. Letter attached.
Union Contacts
If you have questions or comments, or need assistance
from the union, please email your Interim Council representative
(listed below). You
can also send questions and comments to ICquestions@gaoanalysts.org.
Call for
COMMUNIQUÉ Contributions
Do you have a
union-related meeting or announcement that you would like to
make to others in the bargaining unit? If so, send the details
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, January
23rd for inclusion in the next edition of the COMMUNIQUÉ
.
The
weekly Communiqué is a joint effort of the members of the
volunteer members of the GAO union's Communications Committee:
John Bumgarner (DCM-Norfolk), Angela Pleasants (PDP-Denver), Rod
Rodgers (DCM), Kathryn Smith (DCM), and Committee Co-Chairs
Shaunessye Curry (HC-Chicago) and Regina Santucci
(EWIS).
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, IFPTE has developed an advocacy tool to allow
Analysts to provide feedback to the union. 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.
