Top Stories

NTEU Renews Concern Over Tax Debt Privatization Program As the debt collection program for student loans comes under congressional fire for alleged abusive and illegal collection tactics, NTEU reminds lawmakers and the public that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) continues its plan to privatize tax debt collection. In fact, IRS Commissioner Mark Everson cited the Department of Education's use of private collection agencies under the Federal Family Education Loan Program in congressional testimony supporting the tax debt privatization program. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is seeking information from two student loan companies — including one known as Sallie Mae — on their collection practices. Sallie Mae just happens to be the parent organization of a private company awarded a contract last year by the IRS to collect tax debts. This does not bode well for the IRS initiative. “The IRS tax debt privatization program is built on a house of cards,” said President Kelley. “It seems that the IRS was holding up this program as a model while borrowers were allegedly being subjected to harassment and violations of the law.” (More) For more information, visit http://capwiz.com/nteu /home.

NTEU Again Blasts FDA Reorganization
As Concerns Rise Over Food Safety
As lawmakers and consumers continue to raise concerns about the safety of the nation's food supply, NTEU again questioned the sense of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) plan to close seven of 13 regional labs.

“The FDA has yet to explain to Congress, or the American people, how it is serving the public interest by shutting down more than half of its labs at a time when we are experiencing life-threatening food outbreaks,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley last Tuesday as a House subcommittee met to explore flaws in food-chain oversight.

Representatives on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee blamed declining staffing levels and resources at the FDA for its inadequate standards and enforcement.

On the same day as the hearing, the Government Accountability Office issued a report estimating that each year 76 million Americans contract a food-borne illness, while 325,000 require hospitalization and 5,000 die.

NTEU has been an outspoken critic of the Office of Regional Affairs restructuring plan, arguing that the FDA must boost resources, especially after the string of food-contamination outbreaks.

For the complete story, click here or visit <www.nteu.
org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1086>.

NTEU Wins Reinstatement For Some 20 FNS Retirees
At least 20 employees of the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) who took an early retirement in anticipation of budget shortfalls will receive back pay and the option to return to work, thanks to an NTEU arbitration victory.

"This decision shows that meaningful bargaining on the impact and implementation of an agency decision needs to be just that—meaningful bargaining," said Kelley, adding that it will have important ramifications government-wide.

An arbitrator ruled that FNS violated both the law and the parties’ contract by evading its obligation to bargain over workplace changes and unilaterally implementing a voluntary early retirement authority (VERA). Last August, FNS began negotiating with NTEU over the impact of the VERA program, but the agency cut short talks after two days and rolled out VERA without any signed agreement.

"The agency's haste was at the expense of the union and its bargaining unit employees who did not obtain the advantages that good-faith bargaining might have achieved," the arbitrator said, noting that FNS showed no evidence that it was facing a budget crisis. FNS was ordered to grant employees the right to reinstatement and back pay equal to the difference between their salaries at the time they retired, less any money received from their pensions.

For the complete story, click here or visit <www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/
PressRelease.aspx?ID=1088>.

Some Employees Abusing Transit Subsidy Program, GAO Testifies
The free monthly subsidy that more than 300,000 federal employees nationwide use to pay for public transportation is being abused, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Some employees are selling their benefits on the Internet and collectively reaping millions in proceeds each year, GAO reported at a hearing Tuesday before the Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. In some instances, federal employees have been claiming subsidies higher than their commuting costs and selling the remaining vouchers, while others have been accepting transit checks but driving to work, GAO found. GAO also testified that administrators have been distributing transit subsidies to employees who have left the government, who were never employed by the agency or who utilize free parking at work.

President Kelley voiced concern about the possible fraud, adding that she hopes the hearing will "serve to strengthen the transit program so it accomplishes its intended purposes."

"The transit subsidy program fills a number of vital needs, including helping federal workers with their commuting costs and assisting in efforts to reduce the amount of traffic on the roads in and around metropolitan areas," she said.


NTEU Asks IRS Employees to Take 2007 Survey
At NTEU's urging, tens of thousands of employees did not participate in the past two annual IRS Engagement Surveys. NTEU discouraged participation to send the message that employees were very dissatisfied with how little change came from the survey process. As a result, the data management did collect was almost useless and the money spent on the survey wasted.

Rather than face this agency-wide resistance by employees for yet another year, management has agreed to start making some of the changes that NTEU has been demanding. While the survey process is not perfect, there is enough potential for progress that NTEU has ended its boycott and now asks that employees take the survey.

Here are some of the changes:

• The lowest scoring work groups will be identified by top management and an outside consultant brought in to probe more deeply into what is causing the employee dissatisfaction and what changes must be made in those groups;

• The IRS survey questions are now the same used across agencies, enabling NTEU to rank IRS against other agencies and use that information with those outside IRS if management does not make changes;

• Elevated issues will be worked by a joint committee of NTEU leaders and executives; and

• If the committee does not react to the data, NTEU has the right to bargain over employee demands.

Now that IRS is surveying on the same issues as the rest of government, it is critical that employees tell management what they really think. Without employees honestly telling management what the problems are, the IRS may end up with data indicating all is well. Don’t let this opportunity to weigh in pass you by.

The survey began April 23 and ends May 18. NTEU will decide on our position on next year's survey based on the outcome of this year's survey and follow-up actions taken by the IRS.


Headlines

Lawmakers Seek To Extend Combat-Zone Tax Break To Feds
GovExec, April 24, 2007
Legislation was introduced in the House and Senate last week that would provide federal civilian employees serving in combat zones with the same tax credit that is available to military service members.

The bills (H.R. 1974 and S. 1166), sponsored by Virginia Republicans Rep. Frank Wolf and Sen. John Warner, aim to provide tax parity to federal civilian employees who serve alongside military personnel in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Approval of this measure would be an important signal to these patriotic and dedicated employees that their service is both recognized and valued," said Colleen Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union.

For the complete story, click here or visit <www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0407/0424
07b1.htm>.


New on NTEU.org

FEEA Is There When Federal Employees Need It
It's not new, but it's new to you if you need it.

With one month until the official start of hurricane season, NTEU is reminding federal employees that help is available if they need it.

As the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to helping federal and postal employees, the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) has provided more than $6.5 million in scholarships and $5.5 million in emergency loans and grants during its 21-year existence. This includes the $1.8 million FEEA contributed to federal families impacted by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

For information on donating or applying for FEEA assistance, visit www.FEEA.org.