What's New/General Information and/or News
| Free Tax Preparation Benefit Available Now for Eligible Members |
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Free Tax Preparation Benefit Available Now for Eligible Members
Starting today, NTEU members can visit our website for free access to TaxSlayer tax preparation software for federal and state returns and free electronic filing.
As a reminder, the IRS has imposed an income limit on the program of an adjusted gross income (AGI) of $73,000 per filer or return, if filing jointly.
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| Honoring Fallen NTEU Law Enforcement Members |
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SUMMARY: On Thursday, March 2 at 10:00 a.m. ET, NTEU will honor our fallen NTEU law enforcement members by conducting a wreath laying ceremony in conjunction with our Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.
On Thursday, March 2 at 10:00 a.m.
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| 3rd NTEU chapter at BLM |
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SUMMARY: Employees of the Bureau of Land Management’s Northwest Oregon
District have voted for NTEU representation.
I am very pleased to report that employees of the Department of Interior, Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM) Northwest Oregon District voted to affiliate with NTEU, and the FLRA
has now certified NTEU as the exclusive representative of these employees.
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| NTEU - 85 years - Bulletin |
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The latest issue of the NTEU Bulletin highlights what NTEU has accomplished both this year and over 85 years:
https://www.nteu.org/~/media/Files/nteu/bulletin/2023/jan-feb2023.
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| NTEU Members Can Access Free Tax Preparation Benefit |
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NTEU Members Can Access Free Tax Preparation Benefit
NTEU members with incomes of $73,000 or less can take advantage of a free tax preparation benefit for filing your 2022 federal and state income taxes. The exclusive benefit is available only to NTEU members and includes access to free Tax Slayer software that can be used for federal and state returns.
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| Open Season is Here—Members Get Free Access to Consumers’ Checkbook |
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Open Season is Here—Members Get Free Access to Consumers’ Checkbook
Federal Benefits Open Season kicked off yesterday and runs through Dec. 12. During this time, NTEU members have free, exclusive access to Consumers’ Checkbook Online Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees and Annuitants.
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| DOL Highlights Benefits of a Union Presence |
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DOL Highlights Benefits of a Union Presence
There are significant advantages to having a union in the workplace, as NTEU members already know, and the Department of Labor has the data to prove it.
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| Voter Registration Deadlines Approaching! |
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Voter Registration Deadlines Approaching!
With just over 30 days until election day, voter registration deadlines are approaching in many states and NTEU wants to make sure you are registered to vote.
As a federal employee, the outcome of the midterm elections directly impacts your work life and ability to provide for your family.
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| BLM’s Rio Puerco Employees Vote to Join NTEU |
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BLM’s Rio Puerco Employees Vote to Join NTEU
Employees at the Bureau of Land Management’s Rio Puerco field office in New Mexico voted to join NTEU yesterday. The New Mexico employees help manage federal lands outside Albuquerque.
With this election victory, the bargaining unit employees are now part of NTEU Chapter 340 (BLM New Mexico).
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| NEW! Member Benefit Offers Supplemental Insurance, Free College Degree |
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NEW! Member Benefit Offers Supplemental Insurance, Free College Degree
NTEU members now have access to supplemental insurance programs and free higher education opportunities through a new partnership with Optavise.
Supplemental health insurance pays cash directly to members to help offset non-medical expenses from a critical illness or accidental injury.
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| Member Contact Information Campaign |
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SUMMARY: NTEU is launching our annual June campaign encouraging members to update their personal contact information on NTEU.org. Members who update their contact information this month will be entered into a drawing to win one of two $100 Visa eGift Cards. Attached is a message that will be sent to employees for whom we do not have a personal email address and/or cellphone number.
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| The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey is Underway |
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he Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey is Underway
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) is returning to a late spring schedule. This year's survey will be issued in two waves, with the first rolling out this week and a second group of agencies administering the survey next week.
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| What to Do If You Received a W-2c Form |
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What to Do If You Received a W-2c Form
Just when federal employees thought they were done dealing with the 2020 deferral – and repayment -- of their Social Security taxes, one more tax form shows up in the mail to cause even more confusion.
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| Remote Work and Telework forms |
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Link to Remote Work and Telework Forms:
https://doimspp.sharepoint.com/sites/nps-InsideNPS/SitePages/Appointments-Pay-Leave-and-Work-Schedules.aspx?
on the Inside NPS sharepoint site.
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| The 2021 FEVS Begins Next Month |
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he 2021 FEVS Begins Next Month
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) last week announced that it will begin administering the 2021 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) during the first week of November. The government-wide survey asks employees about their views on work, agencies, supervisors and more.
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| NTEU: Updated FAQs on Vaccine (10/7/2021) |
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SUMMARY: NTEU has updated its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page in response to the guidance issued by the Safe Federal Workforce Task Force on reasonable accommodations as exceptions to the vaccine mandate.
Earlier this week, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force issued additional guidance to agencies on reasonable accommodations.
Download:
 UPdated FAQs - Employee Message.pdf
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| Health Insurance Costs for Federal Employees to Increase in 2022 |
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Health Insurance Costs for Federal Employees to Increase in 2022
Federal employees and retirees on average will pay 3.8 percent more for health insurance in 2022, a lower price increase than last year but still a noticeable cut to take-home pay for federal employees around the country.
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| Updated Vaccine Mandate Guidance on Reasonable Accommodations (10/5/2021) |
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Updated Vaccine Mandate Guidance on Reasonable Accommodations
The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force yesterday issued guidance on reasonable accommodations as exceptions to the vaccine mandate.
The Task Force provided templates for agencies to use to develop forms for employees to request medical and religious exemptions.
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| Additional Details on Vaccine Requirement Released (10/1/2021) |
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Additional Details on Vaccine Requirement Released
The Safer Federal Workforce Task Force has released additional details on the vaccine mandate in new FAQs and during a briefing with NTEU earlier this week. The new information largely covers issues surrounding enforcement of the requirement. All of this information and more are available on NTEU's newly-updated FAQs page.
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| 2022 FEHBP Rates Announced |
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SUMMARY: Today, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program’s premium rates would increase an average 2.4 percent in 2022, with an average increase for employees of 3.8 percent.
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| Vaccination Deadlines |
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As many of you know, President Biden has issued an Executive Order requiring that all federal employees, including those who are teleworking or working remotely, must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by November 22, 2021.
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| Happy Labor Recognition Week! |
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Happy Labor Recognition Week!
It’s Labor Recognition Week and I am pleased to share a special message with you. At NTEU, we believe every LRW is a special occasion, but this year’s merits special recognition.
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| ICYMI: Reardon Talks Federal Pay Raise on Government Matters |
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ICYMI: Reardon Talks Federal Pay Raise on Government Matters
Last week, National President Tony Reardon appeared on television's Government Matters to discuss the administration’s plan to give federal employees a 2.7 percent pay increase for 2022.
Reardon called this a “very good start” and reiterated that NTEU continues to push strongly for a 3.
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| Approval of Labor Unions is the Highest Since 1965 |
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Approval of Labor Unions is the Highest Since 1965
Americans' approval of unions has been ticking upward in recent years and is now at its highest point in more than half a century.
According to Gallup, which has been tracking Americans’ perceptions of labor unions since the 1930s, approval of unions is at 68 percent, the highest it has been since 1965.
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| A Labor Day Message from the National President |
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The first Labor Day parade was held in 1882 when unions in New York threw a parade that drew more than 20,000 people—even though they had to give up a day’s pay to march.
This year’s Labor Day celebrations will likely be much smaller and more subdued than this first one nearly 140 years ago, due to the ongoing pandemic.
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| Biden Announces Vaccine Policy |
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Biden Announces Vaccine Policy
President Biden today announced the outline of a new vaccine policy for federal employees. While we have the broad strokes, NTEU has many questions about how and when the policy will be rolled out across the government, including how the rights of employees will be protected.
Here is what we know. The new policy is not a mandate for vaccinations.
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| Reardon Addresses Workplace Reopenings on Government Matters |
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Reardon Addresses Workplace Reopenings on Government Matters
National President Tony Reardon appeared on television's Government Matters yesterday to discuss concerns some employees have raised about returning to the office and what NTEU wants to see in agency re-entry plans.
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| Juneteenth Holiday to Become Law; Observed Today (Friday) |
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BREAKING NEWS
Juneteenth Holiday to Become Law; Observed Tomorrow
Most federal employees will have a paid day off tomorrow, June 18, in the first-ever federal recognition of Juneteenth.
President Biden is scheduled to sign the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. (ET), declaring June 19 a national holiday.
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| United Benefits - retirement webinar |
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United Benefits is one of NTEU National's long-time partners and they've conducted in person retirement briefings for our chapter in past years, if you recall. They're offering a webinar that looks like it would be useful for our members to access.
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| Reminder: Additional Carryover Leave Must Be Used in 2021 |
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Reminder: Additional Carryover Leave Must Be Used in 2021
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 allowed federal employees to carry over up to 60 hours of additional unused annual leave into 2021. That additional leave must be used by the end of the year and before any other annual leave available to the employee.
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| NTEU Proceeds with Lawsuit Alleging 2018-19 Shutdown Violated FLSA |
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NTEU Proceeds with Lawsuit Alleging 2018-19 Shutdown Violated FLSA
NTEU continues to pursue its lawsuit alleging the former administration violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by failing to timely pay employees required to work during the 2018-2019 partial government shutdown.
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| Excused Absence for Adverse Reaction Due to the COVID-19 Vaccine |
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Excused Absence for Adverse Reaction Due to the COVID-19 Vaccine
The Safer Federal Workforce taskforce has encouraged, and DOI has determined to grant, up to two full workdays of administrative leave (pay code 060) for recovery from an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine (i.e.
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| Surveys Confirm Federal Employee Support For Telework |
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Surveys Confirm Federal Employee Support For Telework
In an NTEU survey, more than 13,800 frontline federal employees from 33 agencies and departments shared their experiences teleworking during the past year. According to the survey, 92 percent called their telework experience “successful” and two-thirds reported an uptick in productivity.
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| Black History Month |
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In honor of Black History Month, NTEU is celebrating the contributions of two pioneers in medicine. Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first Black female physician in the United States, and Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first Black woman awarded a nursing degree. Attached are fliers celebrating these trailblazers.
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| A New Exclusive Benefit - Tax Paying Benefits |
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Coming Soon! A New Exclusive Benefit
Tax season is just around the corner and NTEU is pleased to announce that all NTEU members can soon prepare their taxes and file them free of charge by using a new NTEU member benefit. This exclusive benefit gives you free access to TaxSlayer tax preparation software for your federal and state return and free electronic filing for both.
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| NTEU on events at U.S. Capitol |
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I am deeply saddened and angry by what occurred this afternoon at the U.S. Capitol Building. Like some of you, I have spent time in that building, and stand in awe of what it represents and the public servants it houses each day.
Our union stands with everyone at the Capitol—faithful public servants who have chosen to serve their country.
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| Repayments of Payroll Tax Deferral |
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More Details on Repayments of Payroll Tax Deferral
Last week, NTEU informed members that the repayment of the payroll tax deferral that was forced on federal employees will begin in the current pay period for employees whose payroll is handled by the National Finance Center.
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Page Last Updated: Jan 28, 2023 (05:59:17)
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