Contract Negotiations in Arbitration Mediation�

After an uneventful flight, I arrived in Washington D.C. to participate on the negotiation of a new Master Labor Agreement. ��

From the onset it was clear that the intent of management was to turn back the clock to 1971. It seems that �administrative burden� was the overall theme that garnered their focus. Now I must point out early in this article that the management team had over eight (8) months to prepare yet their opening proposals were delivered in the last hours of face-to-face negotiations.� Not a timely delivery of the product, unless they were negotiating in bad faith.

Ron Sanders, Chief of Strategic Human Resources, headed the management team. Mr. Sanders came to the IRS from the Department of Defense, home of the RIF and contracting out. I am precluded from discussing specific details but some of the comments from management were as follows;

�WE RIG PROMOTIONS BECAUSE WE NEED TO�

�WE WANT EXTERNAL PEOPLE BECAUSE WE WANT QUALITY�

�COLLEGE GRADS ARE TOO BRIGHT TO BE TCO'S�

There are many more but most cannot be put in print. It is clear to me that the focus was to undermine the rights of employees. Frequently they refused to include language directly from the IRM in NTEU�s proposals. They would bury this information in some obscure document then never follow it and hope that you would never know.

The next step in the process is to complete the mediation/arbitration phase. Once the decision is reached and reviewed by the Department of the Treasury, a special meeting will be held to discuss ratification of the new contract. Watch for that notice on the web at WWW.NTEU92.ORG or on local bulletin boards.

Registering to Vote for the Primary Election

To ensure receipt of sample ballot materials for the March 5 Governor Primary Election, applicants are encouraged to register to vote by February 4. Applicants who register between February 5 and February 19 will be able to vote in the Primary but might not be mailed sample ballots. Instead, late registrants may receive a post card notice giving them their polling place location. They may review sample ballot pamphlets at one of the following: 1) their poll location, 2) this website, or 3) at the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa. The last day to register and be eligible to vote in the March Primary is February 19.

Pay Banding

On December 17,2001 I flew back to DC to participate in discussions on the concept of Pay Banding for bargaining unit employees. This represents the beginning of a very long process for which NTEU has NOT decided on whether it is in the interest of the IRS employees in the bargaining unit to proceed with full negotiations.

If you should hear that NTEU has agreed to this, ask for the copy of the agreement. If we do come to a resolution on this matter we will have a formal signed agreement to share with all of those employees affected.

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Hello, Are you there?

NTEU members are entitled to many benefits including Lasik Eye Surgery Discounts. We would like to ensure that we have current address information for each member. If you have not received a NTEU Bulletin or other correspondence recently, you may want to contact the NTEU Chapter 92 Office.

If you would like to receive the Chapter 92 Newsletter, Newsline 92, then send an email from your home email address to mediarelations@nteu92.org. You will be added to our email list.

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TEPAC REWARDS IN THE MAIL

The TEPAC incentives are in the mail as we speak. These incentives are sent to your home address. Yet another reason to check our records. These are TEPAC�s way of saying thank you for your contribution.

What is TEPAC? This is the Treasury Employees Political Action Committee. It is a way to collectively support those who support you as a Federal employee.

What is that you say, you don�t think PACS are right? Funny thing those contractors after your job think it is just fine.

Want more information? Remember it must go to your home in accordance with the Hatch Act and various other regulations.

And Finally

The role that Labor and Management play in our daily lives is often unnoticed. We forget to acknowledge when we make a mistake and commend those for doing the right thing. The likelihood that NTEU and Management will agree on everything is slim, but I am not willing to forget to acknowledge when things are working.

Frank Nixon is to be commended on his efforts in providing NTEU Chapter 92 with Hearing Officials who have actually listened to our discussion and worked to resolve many issues. It is a reflection of Leadership vs Managing at work.

Frank and I have agreed to disagree many times, but we both respect and honor the duties we both fulfill.

Thanks Frank

Text Box: NTEU Chapter 92
P.O. Box 122190
San Diego, CA 92112-2190
880 Front Street Room 3296
San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-557-6324
Fax: 619-557-6308
Email: mediarelations@nteu92.org
Web: WWW.NTEU92.org