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[Union]

Time to Vote! Union Officer Elections and Other Updates

BAND TOGETHER
COMMUNIQUÉ

December 8, 2008
 
Union Notices

Don't Forget to Vote!! Officer Elections Start Today
The first official election for Union Officers will take place by online voting starting today, December 8, and will continue through 8 PM EST on December 15. To kick off their campaigns, officer candidates interacted with interested voters and discussed their ideas for the future during a candidate forum held December 2 in Headquarters and transmitted to field offices via VTC. The Union also released a Voters' Guide providing the candidates' statements and descriptions of officer responsibilities (a copy of the Voters' Guide is attached).

Only current dues-paying Union members will be able to vote in this election. If you believe you are a dues-paying member but do NOT receive a email ballot by Tuesday, December 9th, please contact Chris Langford, langfordc@gao.gov or Ken Stockbridge, stockbridgek@gao.gov as soon as possible. If you wish to vote in future assembly elections or ratifications for key Union issues, please go to our website at www.gaoanalysts.org to learn how to become a member or contact Chris Langford.

Union Urged Management to Release Ratings on Schedule
Performance ratings were released on Thursday, December 4 after the Union urged management to adhere to the planned ratings schedule and not postpone release. The Union received notice on Wednesday, December 3, that GAO management did not intend to release ratings to employees in the Competency Based Performance System on Thursday, December 4, as had been announced in the overall 2008 ratings schedule on August 20.  According to management officials, the ratings were still undergoing "GAO-wide review" and that GAO staff would be notified when there was additional information about when ratings would be released.  The Union objected to this change because it contributed to the perception that ratings were being "managed" and requested that management adhere to the announced schedule.  GAO management responded saying that the Executive Committee reconsidered the change in the schedule and released ratings on December 4, as previously planned.

Discussions Underway on Performance Appraisal Survey
The Union is in discussions with GAO's Performance Appraisal Study Team to provide comments on a draft of the survey, which solicits feedback and improvements to the performance assessment system. The Union provided written comments to the Performance Study team on Friday, December 5 and will continue discussions this week over Union concerns with the survey instrument. The Union has been working closely with the Performance Appraisal Study Team, which was formed to conduct a systematic review of the GAO performance assessment system, including focus groups with employees from all pay bands and interviews with executives and managers, as well as this survey, due out in early 2009.

How Do I Join the Union?
To join the Union, just fill out a membership form and give the form to an Interim Council representative.  You can also email the membership form to gaounionmembership@ifpte.org. If you chose to have dues deducted automatically, you need to fill out an additional form (GAO Form 676), which you can email to Workforcerelations@gao.gov or give to an Interim Council representative.  Field office staff can email or pouch the dues deduction form to Workforce Relations or give to an Interim Council representative. Information on the membership application and payment options and applicable forms are available on the GAO Union website at http://www.gaoanalysts.org.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact Chris Langford (langfordc@gao.gov or 202-512-6535), Chair of the Membership Committee.

If you have already joined the Union--thanks!--you should have received an e-mail acknowledging receipt of your forms. We are excited with our membership levels so far, but we want everyone to "join the band!"

Please Give Us Your Feedback and Contributions
Although the regular Communiqué is now a bi-weekly, the Communications Committee would still like your feedback regarding articles you'd like to see, questions you'd like answered, or any other suggestions!  Please send your feedback to Charlie Willson (willsonc@gao.gov).  If you would like the next Communiqué to include a Union-related announcement or the time and place of a Union-related meeting, please forward the information to Lise Levie (leviel@gao.gov) by 6 p.m. ET on Thursday, December 11, to be considered for the next Communiqué. 
 

Union Contacts
If you have questions or comments, or need assistance from the Union, please email your Interim Council Representative.  You can also send questions and comments to ICquestions@gaoanalysts.org.
 
Members of the bargaining unit are welcome to observe Interim Council meetings, either in person or by phone.  In addition, members are invited to submit or share thoughts at the beginning of the meeting. Please contact your representative or another member of the IC for more details, including the call-in number for those who cannot attend in person. The Interim Council normally meets each Wednesday at 3:30 PM ET in room 2T59.

Union's Official Address for Confidential Mail
Did you know that you can mail items to the union without going through GAO?  The union now has a U.S. Post Office box for anyone who wants to be sure of confidentiality when sending mail to the union--for example, checks for payment of union dues.  Please send mail to the following address:
 
GAO Employees Organization
P.O. Box 50236
Washington, DC  20091-0236
 
If you are sending in checks, please also put "Attention: Treasurer" on the envelope.

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.