| Dear Bargaining Unit Employee: |
| Do you find yourself frustrated when filling up your tank? Gasoline crossed the $3.00 mark here in Greater Cincinnati. Will the price of a barrel of oil rise to $100? Do you want to fight back? Here are several ways you can fight back. |
| First, consider using public transportation. The Public Transportation Subsidy Program (PTSP), first introduced through an agreement with NTEU in 1998, and now covered by Article 29, Section 16 of the collective bargaining agreement, PSTP provides an opportunity for you to have your public transportation expenses (currently up to $100 per month) paid for here in the Greater Cincinnati area. |
| Second, consider vanpooling. If you can find three other IRS passengers, in addition to the driver, you may be eligible for reimbursement under the vanpooling aspect of PTSP. |
| Third, consider flexiplace. This program was first introduced through an agreement with NTEU in February 1998, and is now covered by Article 50 of the collective bargaining agreement. Eligible employees may work either Occupational or Situational Flexiplace, and enjoy the benefits of sleeping in and clocking out without the hassle of a commute. |
| Fourth, consider changing your tour of duty to avoid rush hour traffic. Under Article 23 of the collective bargaining agreement along with several old local agreements, employees may start work as early at 6:30 a.m. or as late as 9:00 a.m., and may end their work days as early as 3:00 p.m. or as late as 7:45 p.m. Although the Greater Cincinnati area has relatively light traffic during rush hour compared to cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, or Los Angeles, timing of your arrival can shave significant wait times off your work day. |
| Fifth, consider working credit hours. Employees may earn up to two credit hours per day during the work week, and up to 10 hours on weekends, holidays, or other non-work days. As everyone knows, a good credit hour balance makes a nice cushion for unexpected emergencies or mini-vacations. |
| NTEU remains committed to working with management to keep your transportation options realistic and to maximize reimbursements for transportation options that save you significant dollars. A typical employee who commutes 20 miles one way and pays $5.00 for parking per day could easily save $5,000 per year by using the PTSP program (assuming the real cost of operating a vehicle is .45 per mile). |
| Adapted from the Chief Counsel-NTEU contract |
| 9/2/2005 |
