The union and management bargaining committees had three additional negotiating meetings on Friday, February 1, 2008.  The committees continued to discuss the differences between the management and union positions and how to resolve those differences.  Management produced budget data in response to the union's January 25 request which the union is reviewing.  (The Data Request is posted in connection with the January 25 From the Interim Council message at www.gaoanalysts.org.)

As of 6:30 PM Friday, the management committee informed the union that they could not make further progress until they had the opportunity to have in depth discussions with the Executive Committee.  The management committee estimated that they could not complete those discussions before the middle of the week of February 4, 2008.  Based on management's representations, the union agreed to adjourn negotiations until the week of February 4, 2008. 

An additional update will be sent when the management committee indicates that they are ready to resume negotiations next week.

Senator Akaka Supports Negotiations

In a letter dated February 1, 2008 Senator Akaka, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee stated support for the GAO union pay negotiations, and urged the parties to move forward in good faith to resolve the negotiations in a timely manner through "consultation, dialogue and mediation, if needed."