GAO Plans from Ivy Group Recommendations;
Upcoming Hearing on
Diversity
In response to the recommendations resulting from the Ivy
Group's study of the disparities in performance appraisals
between African American analysts, GAO has plans underway to
implement the study's recommendations and has asked the Ivy
Group to help facilitate discussions on race, which are expected
to begin in the next couple of
weeks.
Chairman Danny Davis' Subcommittee on the Federal
Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia will
hold a hearing Tuesday, September 16, 2008 on the representation
of women and minorities in executive level positions within
legislative branch agencies (e.g. GAO, CBO, LOC, and U.S.
Capitol Police). Frances Garcia and Ron Stroman of GAO, and
Janet Crenshaw Smith of the Ivy Planning Group are scheduled to
testify. Also testifying are former GAO Personnel Appeals Board
officials and an official of the Office of Compliance. Please
check the Subcommittee's Web Site for
current information on the hearing.
GAO Act of 2008 Up for Presidential
Signature
On Tuesday, September 9,
2008, the GAO Act of 2008 (H.R. 5683) cleared
Congress and is awaiting the President’s signature. The legislation provides
guarantees that GAO employees who meet expectations would
receive an annual pay increase that is at least equal to the
executive branch general schedule across-the-board increase and
that GAO’s increase will be effective on the same day as
that increase. GAO
employees on board as of the date of enactment who did not
receive at least 2.6% and 2.4% base pay increases in 2006 and
2007, respectively, will receive pay adjustments and lump sum
payments. GAO
management has informed the Union that fiscal year 2008 money is
available, so that if the bill becomes law before the end of the
fiscal year, these payments will be made using funds from this
fiscal year.
Chairman Davis also mentioned the Union’s efforts in support of the
legislation. The Interim Council (IC) thanks all of those who
worked on this legislation, including those who have left GAO.
The Union and GAO have agreed
to work together to address employees' questions about the
legislation. Please
e-mail any questions to Jacqueline Harpp (harppj@gao.gov).
New Hispanic Diversity
Representative
We’re pleased to announce our newest member of the
Interim Council— Roberto Pinero! He will be representing the diversity
interests of GAO’s Hispanic community for the union. Please contact him if you
have any suggestions or news about Hispanic interests at
GAO.
¡Felicidades Roberto!
Union’s First Anniversary Celebration
Sept 19! Volunteers Still
Needed
Join us at the GAO Union’s party on Friday, September 19,
2008 in the headquarters building to celebrate the
anniversary of the union's start one year ago. Each field office will
be having its own celebration, so please contact the field
office representatives for more information on these parties.
We still need
volunteers to help with the party, so please contact Lise Levie
(leviel@gao.gov) or Gina Hoffman
(hoffmang@gao.gov) if you have any
ideas and suggestions or can help with the activities.
Nominations Sought for Finance
Committee
The Interim Council is still seeking volunteers for
the Finance Committee.
The committee’s primary responsibilities will
include monitoring the union’s finances, preparing annual
budgets, and providing reports to the Interim Council and/or its
successor, the Assembly.
Ideally, we would like the committee to have nine
members, five who are members of the Interim Council (IC) and
four Bargaining Unit (BU) Members. Treasurer Kristi Karls will fill one of the
IC positions, and three BU members have volunteered, so we still
need to fill the remaining four IC positions and one BU
position. If more
members apply for either the IC or BU positions than what remain
open, the IC will vote to select members.
If you are interested in serving
on the committee, please send an e-mail to Elections Committee
Chair Todd Anderson (andersontd@gao.gov)
indicating that you are nominating yourself for a position on
the committee. You may also include a statement about why you
are seeking the position, but it is not required. If you have any
questions about the committee, please contact Kristi Karls (karlsk@gao.gov).
