Welcome to our June 2025 Chapter bulletin! We are NPS employees just like you, and members of the National Treasury Employees Union, Chapter #296, which represents non-supervisory, bargaining unit members of NPS- WASO (NPS headquarters staff). We post this newsletter, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), how to join the union, the annual membership dues chart and other information on our chapter website and Facebook

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DOI’s Illegal Consolidation of NPS WASO Staff

NPS management failed to officially notify the union of plans to consolidate WASO staff into the Department. There was also no opportunity to bargain on this change in working conditions. These are both violations of the CBA. The DOI DOGE effort to consolidate NPS staff has been pursued without any Congressional approval. NTEU and other federal employee labor unions are litigating in the Federal judicial system regarding these and other sorts of illegal actions. NTEU has also challenged this action through an institutional grievance. These cases could take several years to fully litigate.  The chapter and NTEU are tracking continuing consolidation efforts by DOI in violation of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO).  

Union Dues Issues

We are aware that as many as 200 WASO staff who are union members have been illegally consolidated into the Department. Management has stopped Union dues for many of these employees.  NTEU National has confirmed that they still consider everyone who has had their dues illegally stopped to be a union member and that no additional action is currently needed to ensure employees remain in good standing as union members. The Union will continue to represent and fight for them.

Telework

NTEU attorneys continue to work on an arbitration case regarding official telework policy.  NTEU held an arbitration regarding the Biden 50% in-office requirement on April 29. We expect the arbitrator’s decision later this summer. In the meantime, all employees need to return to the office by June 16, as instructed by their supervisors to avoid charges of insubordination.  We have also grieved this requirement and are waiting for a decision.

Remote Workers and Return to Office

We understand that many of our WASO colleagues were hired into remote positions by NPS management. Despite this, these employees are being told to report to a DOI facility, at the same time that everyone else is required to return to office. These are not normal times; the Union has had little to no contact with WASO Labor and Employee Relations officials. For those impacted, please keep a timeline of what you have been told, when, and by whom. Save documentation of any costs incurred as a result of the return to office. When the union wins its litigation/arbitration, one of the remedies the union will seek to make employees whole is reimbursement for costs incurred.

If a mistake has been made about your return-to-office status, contact your supervisor, the Union, and write to returntooffice@NPS.gov

Spotlight on Term Employees

NRSS leadership recently shared with their staff that term employees in the Southeast Region whose not-to-exceed dates have passed are being placed on leave without pay until extensions are approved. It is not clear yet if this is also being applied to WASO employees, but essentially amounts to punishment for term employees because HR is not processing extensions in a timely manner.  For those who are term employees in WASO, please keep a timeline of who told you what, when and where, in case there’s a need to file an institutional grievance.

Communications with Chapter Leadership

For security reasons, Chapter 296 has switched its formal communications to nteu296stewards@gmail.com.  Please use this address to communicate with Chapter leadership and with stewards, but do not send anything with PII - personally identifiable information - to our gmail account. Informally, the chapter has had lively communications with members on Signal.

NTEU Legal Round-up

Every week NTEU National sends a summary of ongoing litigation affecting union members. This is sent to personal e-mails. Be sure to read it to keep up with court decisions that affect us. If you are not receiving the weekly summary, update your profile with NTEU National at https://www.nteu.org/

Next Chapter Meeting: Wednesday, June 11

We will send out a Zoom link in advance of the next chapter meeting, scheduled for June 11, at Noon Eastern Time (12pm ET).

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NTEU Chapter 296 links

NTEU (National) https://www.nteu.org/

NTEU 296 website: https://www.nteuchapter296.org/

NTEU 296 Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/141513362637957/

NTEU National Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTEUNational

email us: nteu296stewards@gmail.com