FederalDaily - December 14, 2007

Army Opens Probe into Temporary Change of Station Travel

The Army this month announced it had opened an internal review into possible fraud, waste and misconduct in the Temporary Change of Station (TCS) travel system. Since 9/11, the Army has used TCS or Temporary Duty orders to fulfill operational requirements around the globe. TCS orders entitle soldiers to lodging and per diem reimbursements—in addition to their normal housing allowance—because they are essentially maintaining a home away from home, the Army said in a statement. Initially, the Army will look at cases in which soldiers have claimed an aggregate of more than $100,000 while on TCS orders. The Army probe so far has turned up some cases of potential fraud, as well as possible incidents of waste and abuse. All suspected cases of fraud are being referred to the Army Criminal Investigation Command. “The Army has an obligation to ensure we use resources provided by the taxpayers efficiently and wisely,” said Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. To see more, go to: www.army.mil/-newsreleases/2007/12/07/6502-accountability-improved-policies-follow-army-change-of-station-travel-review.

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NTEU, NCUA Agree to New Three-Year Agreement

After several years of negotiations, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) have agreed to a first-ever collective bargaining agreement, the union said Dec. 12. The three-year contract provides NCUA employees workplace rights, including alternative work schedules, and with merit pay increases for high-performing employees. Also, it will continue to allow credit union examiners to work out of their homes and at credit unions across the country, NTEU said in a statement. On merit pay, the top 25 percent of employees will receive increases of 8.25 percent; the middle 50 percent will get a 4.5 percent increase and those rated at least fully successful in the lower 25 percent will receive a 2.75 percent increase. Additionally, pay bands of employees will be increased by 4 percent the first year of the contract and 2 percent over each of the next two years. To see more, go to: www.nteu.org/PressKits/PressRelease/PressRelease.aspx?ID=1190  

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Lawmaker Seeks Subcontracting Protections for Postal Workforce

Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., is seeking co-sponsors for a bill that would require the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to bargain with its labor unions before engaging in significant subcontracting. In a Dec. 11 letter to colleagues, Lynch said his bill, H.R. 4236, the Mail Network Protection Act, would require USPS to bargain with affected unions before entering into contracts involving mail processing, mail handling or surface transportation of mail. The bargaining requirement would kick in if the contracts involved the equivalent of $5 million or 50 work-years over a 12-month period. “Privately-contracted employees possess significantly less training and experience than career postal employees and are not subject to the same hiring standards and procedures used by the Postal Service,” Lynch said. The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) applauded the measure. “The requirement to bargain will enhance the union’s ability to oppose wasteful, inefficient and detrimental subcontracting,” said APWU President William Burrus. To see more, go to: http://apwu.org/news/webart/2007/webart07114-lynch-cosponsors-071212.htm  

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