FederalDaily - December 12, 2005
DoD Honors 19 Disabled Feds
The Department of Defense (DoD) recognized 19 disabled federal employees during
the 25th Annual DoD Disability Awards Ceremony on Dec. 6. DoD employs more
than 5,000 workers with severe disabilities targeted by the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission for emphasis in affirmative action programs, said David
S. C. Chu, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. That number
is nearly 1 percent of DoD’s civilian work force. “While that percentage
is higher than in many other agencies, we know we can do better,” Chu
said. Three DoD components were also awarded for their outstanding accomplishments
in their affirmative action programs for people with disabilities. The Best
Military Department award went to the Army, and the Defense Logistics Agency
earned the Best Mid-Size Component. The Defense Finance Accounting Service
was chosen as the Best Small Component.
:: Back to Top ::
CBP Required to Bargain with Locals
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) announced that an arbitrator
recently ruled in the union’s favor in a debate over the Department of
Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) obligation
to bargain over shifts and work assignments. The arbitrator, Jeanne M. Vonhof,
ruled that CBP must bargain with local unions—not simply with national
unions—on issues covered by collective bargaining agreements such as
shift hours, overtime and communications with bargaining unit members on grievances,
personnel policies and other areas. Steven Weekes, president of AFGE Local
1917, said that the decision means that CBP “still has to enter into
good faith negotiations with locals.”
:: Back to Top ::
Eligibility for Veteran Benefit Changes
The Office of Personnel Management issued final regulations in the Dec. 1
issue of the Federal Register to implement provisions of the Jobs
for Veterans Act, which was signed into law in 2002. The act made a major change
in the eligibility criteria for obtaining what previously was called a Veterans
Readjustment Appointment and will now be called a Veterans Recruitment Appointment
(VRA). Effective Jan. 3, under the revised law, the following veterans are
eligible for a VRA:
- disabled veterans;
- veterans who served on active duty in the armed forces during
a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign
badge has been authorized;
- veterans who, while serving on active duty in the armed forces,
participated in a U.S. military operation for which an Armed
Forces Service Medal was awarded; and
- recently separated veterans.
:: Back to Top ::
Making Citizenship Easier for Servicemembers
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, D-Md., and Rep. Elijah Cummings,
D-Md., last week announced plans to introduce new legislation to make it easier
for servicemembers to get their citizenship applications processed. The Kendell
Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act will also demand better coordination among
U.S. immigration and military officials, the congressmen said. Among the provisions
of the act, the bill creates a military citizenship advocate to inform servicemembers
about the citizenship process, requires the Department of Homeland Security
to set up a hotline dedicated to serving servicemembers and their families,
and requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct an investigation
into failed immigration services for the military. “This legislation
will make sure that anyone in the military who wants to become a U.S. citizen
will be able to do so quickly and easily,” said Mikulski.
:: Back to Top ::
|
