FederalDaily - January 30, 2007
GAO Union Effort Launched
The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) has initiated a union-organizing
campaign to represent the 1,500 analysts employed by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the
auditing and investigations arm of Congress. This is the first time that a vote for union-representation
rights will be held at GAO, according to the union. Analysts began to explore unionizing last year,
after GAO completed a restructuring of the agency’s pay system in response to an outside report
showing some GAO analysts were underpaid and some overpaid. IFPTE President Greg Junemann said Jan.
24 that the restructuring was an example of how GAO workers remain in the dark about how personnel
management decisions are made. “The agency’s recent changes to its classification system
has undercut the team approach that has made the agency both effective in its mission and a place where
people enjoy coming to work,” Junemann said. “GAO wants to be a model agency for the rest
of the federal sector, but its new personnel system has become a model of what not to do.” The
union, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, represents federal scientists, engineers and staff at the Congressional
Research Service, among others. To see more, go to: www.ifpte.org/Downloads/Archives/Press%20Releases/2007/IFPTE_GAO_01_24.pdf
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Mail Handlers Ratify New 5-Year Deal, 6.6 Percent Hike
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) voted to ratify a new five-year contract that includes
a 6.6 percent pay hike over the life of the agreement, which runs through Nov. 20, 2011. The deal,
which was announced Jan. 25, affects approximately 55,000 career Postal Service employees working in
the bulk transfer, loading and unloading of mail. The preliminary final vote tally was 15,244 in favor
and 2,116 opposed, said NPMHU President John Hegarty. The deal provides for a 1.2 percent increase
retroactive to Nov. 25, a 0.6 percent increase on Feb. 16 and a 1.2 percent pay hike each November
thereafter throughout the term of the contract. Also, two new pay steps have been added. Effective
Nov. 25, 2006, a new step—Step P—is added to the top of the Mail Handler pay schedule;
effective Feb. 3, 2007. A new entry-level step—Step AA—also will be added. To see more,
go to: www.npmhu.org/Pubs/2006ContractUpdate/2006ContractUpdate20.asp
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VA Improves Blind and Low-Vision Services
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has embarked on a $40 million, three-year upgrade to establish
a comprehensive nationwide rehabilitation system for veterans and active-duty personnel with visual
impairments. The system will enhance inpatient services and expand outpatient services throughout the
1,400 locations where VA provides healthcare, VA Secretary Jim Nicholson announced Jan. 25. Under the
reorganization plan, each of VA’s 21 regional Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) will
start providing eye care to veterans with visual impairments ranging from 20/70 to total blindness.
Basic low-vision services will be available at all VA eye clinics and every network will offer intermediate
and advanced low-vision services—including a full spectrum of optical devices and electronic
visual aids. Also, the agency’s 10 existing inpatient blind-rehabilitation centers will continue
to provide the most intensive eye care programs—but each VISN now will also provide outpatient-based
blind-rehabilitation care. “Under this new plan, we can provide all eligible visually impaired
veterans with world-class healthcare closer to their homes,” Nicholson said. To see more, go
to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1280
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