Top Stories

Rising Gas Prices Underscore Importance of Telework Bill Along with pushing for higher mileage reimbursement rates, NTEU has responded to rising gas prices by reiterating its strong support for telework. Not only does the program reduce employees' commuting costs, but it also saves the government money. Plus, it boosts employee morale and is environmentally sound. Despite these many benefits and a congressional mandate to increase teleworking, the program lags in the federal sector. But there's legislation that would change this. The bipartisan Telework Enhancement Act (S. 1000) would require federal agencies to have a telework manager and deem all federal positions eligible for telework unless specifically exempted. For more information, click here or visit <http: // capwiz.com/nteu/ issues/alert/?alertid= 9593821&type=CO>.

NTEU Calls for Boost in Mileage Reimbursement Rates
Gas prices are rising, but mileage reimbursement rates aren't.

NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley is calling on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to fix this by making a mid-year increase in mileage reimbursement rates for business travel.

“I hope you will do whatever you can to see that all Americans who must depend on their cars to perform their jobs get some relief, including those who work for the federal government,” Kelley wrote in a letter to IRS Acting Commissioner Kevin Brown.

The IRS typically sets the annual reimbursement rate at the beginning of the year, but the agency did make an adjustment in September 2005 after Hurricane Katrina sent gas prices soaring. Currently, the cost of gas is averaging more than $3 per gallon and further increases are expected.

The General Services Administration, which sets the reimbursement rate for federal employees who drive personal vehicles on government business, generally matches the IRS rate.

For the complete story, click here or visit <www.nteu.org/
PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1109>.

NTEU Continues Push to Bring
Telework to All ATF BU Employees
Last June, NTEU and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reached agreement on establishing the first nationwide telework policy for employees. Unfortunately, not all bargaining unit employees are able to take advantage of the benefit.

One year and an office relocation later, ATF still insists on excluding Legal Instrument Examiners and ATF Specialists from the program, agreeing only to negotiations over whether these employees should work under a telework pilot. This comes after a relocation that tripled most commute times of examiners and specialists to three hours. In prohibiting telework, ATF cited security and financial concerns that NTEU believes are exaggerated.

Rather than delay implementation of the program, NTEU and ATF agreed to negotiate over the pilot separately. NTEU has sought assistance from the Federal Service Impasses Panel (FSIP) and filed an information request for ATF to explain how it calculated the cost of securing data. The FSIP helped NTEU and ATF reach agreement on a master telework agreement, and NTEU is hopeful that the Panel will again assist in developing solutions to ATF’s most recent concerns.

Updates on NTEU efforts will be provided in future issues of the NTEU e-Bulletin.


NTEU Responding to Tuberculosis Case on Local, National Level
NTEU is very closely monitoring the unfolding situation involving the individual who entered the country with tuberculosis.

Locally, NTEU is actively engaged with front-line personnel to gather all facts and be sure that management is fully aware of the events surrounding the incident. NTEU will ensure that employees are treated fairly and have the benefit of NTEU representation.

Nationally, President Kelley has been in discussion with top CBP management officials stressing the importance of proceeding cautiously to conduct a balanced, even-handed investigation of all the factors involved in this incident, and to reach a productive, reasonable resolution.

Additionally, NTEU is working to educate members of Congress on the systems and processes used in passenger screening and related issues. NTEU will be sure that the employee perspective is presented on Capitol Hill.

One-Hour Service Disruption Expected Friday on NTEU's Web sites
NTEU's web sites will be down from 7 to 8 p.m. EDT, this Friday, June 8, so that we can perform server maintenance. NTEU's web sites include www.NTEU.org, www.DHSunion.org and www.nteuIRSwatch.org.


Headlines

Survey: Unauthorized Teleworkers a Security Risk
GovExec, June 4, 2007
Federal teleworkers are less of a security risk than many of their in-office colleagues who take home government work without authorization, according to a report released Monday by the public-private partnership Telework Exchange.

An online poll of 258 federal employees including sanctioned teleworkers, non-teleworkers and non-teleworkers who unofficially work at home revealed that federal data is significantly more mobile and still vulnerable. Telework Exchange conducted the survey in May to examine changes in data mobility and security awareness one year after the loss of a Veterans Affairs Department laptop that contained personal data on 26.5 million veterans and active-duty members.

Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said the study's finding that agencies failed to encrypt data on some new laptops is "disappointing."

A large number of her members "routinely travel in the course of their daily work. These include Internal Revenue Service revenue agents and revenue officers, bank examiners of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and many others," she said, adding, "This is an important shortcoming that must be addressed by agencies, even as they seek to expand telework opportunities."

For the complete story, click here or visit <www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?article
id=37105&dcn=todaysnews>.


New on NTEU.org

NTEU Benefit Helps You Get the Most Out of Home Improvement
With the home improvement season upon us, NTEU is offering a money-saving benefit to help members make the right choices about local service providers. Take advantage of a discounted subscription to Consumers’ CHECKBOOK magazine and web site, and access ratings of your area's electricians, plumbers, roofers, carpet cleaners, window installers and many other service firms. CHECKBOOK also rates hardware stores for do-it-yourselfers, as well as homeowners' insurance plans.

NTEU members get a two-year subscription for the discounted price of $28, a 30 percent savings off the newsstand price. This includes four semi-annual issues of Consumers’ CHECKBOOK magazine, newsletter updates, and access to CHECKBOOK's web site and its online guide to hospitals and doctors.

Please note that Consumers’ CHECKBOOK magazine offers ratings for service providers in the following greater metropolitan areas: Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC. (For detailed coverage areas, click on the link below.)

For subscription information, click here or visit <www.nteu.org/MemberBenefits/
Discounts.aspx#checkbook>.