The Next Monthly Chapter Meeting will be on November 20, 2024
When: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, Noon Eastern Time
Where: Using Teams from Your Computer or Home/Work Phone
Call-in: Use the TEAMS link or the telephone information below. To avoid too much clutter or bandwidth issues, please turn off your camera and mute your microphone/telephone, unless you are speaking. Feel free to pose questions or comments in the chat.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
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Meeting ID: 235 498 921 787
Passcode: x7sxFN
Dial in by phone
+1 202-640-1187,,719776994# United States, Washington DC
Phone conference ID: 719 776 994#
What's on the Agenda?
* Welcome and Opening Remarks
* Transition to a New Administration and a New Congress -- The Union Perspective
* FY 2025 Funding — Factors and Prospects
* Space Consolidation at MIB and Elsewhere — A Status Report
* Our Next Contract -- The Negotiations are Complete. What's Next?
* Issues From Meeting Attendees -- What Do You Want to Know About/Talk About?
* Moratorium on New Proposed Telework Changes Implementation – A Brief Report
* Union National President's Meeting with the NPS Director — A Brief Report
* Annual Leave Use or Lose Deadlines — A Reminder and a Clarification
* Public Transit Subsidy Program Deadline — A Reminder
* Health Insurance Program Open Season — A Union Source of Information
* Recent Chapter Activities for WASO Staff – A Brief Description
* Other Topics
At the mid-point of the Union's lunch and learn meeting, we will ask for your issues, concerns, or suggestions that the agenda does not cover.
Union members in NPS-WASO have access to speak with our talented NTEU labor lawyers. Daniel Lechner, located in DC, (Daniel.Lechner@nteu.org) and Arathi Premkumar, located in Colorado (Arathi.Premkumar@nteu.org) - are available to advise you.
Since we last met, your Chapter 296 leaders have been busy on your behalf. We have learned a lot. We have represented your interests in several settings, and we have a lot to report to you on a wide range of issues. This is true every month. The Union always learns something during our monthly Labor Management Relations Committee (LMRC) meetings made possible by our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Many of the lunch and learn topic discussions benefit from the LMRC meeting.
Transition to a New Administration and a New Congress -- The Union Perspective -- Special guest Matt Sowards, who is a legislative expert at the Union's national office, will join us to share his insights on what the recent elections are likely to mean for federal employees. Matt will explain what we can expect during the lame duck session of Congress and the current administration. Although the majority has switched in the Senate, Senators and Representatives are largely the same people who serve in the current Congress. How much of a difference do we expect this time around? What is Project 2025? What are the chances of it being adopted?
FY 2025 Funding — Factors and Prospects -- Matt Sowards also will talk to us about what is likely to happen when current funding (established via a Continuing Resolution) comes to an end on December 20, 2024. Will there be a new Continuing Resolution? Is the Senate in the new Congress likely to continue to abide by the debt ceiling agreement for FY 2025? The current House has been unable to pass funding bills without Democratic help. Is that likely to change in the new Congress?
Space Consolidation at MIB and Elsewhere — A Status Report — A major consolidation of space (officially called a "densification") is imminent at the Main Interior Building (MIB). Similar consolidations are in process or being planned for other NPS facilities. During the meeting, we will explain the Union's role in bargaining on the impact and implementation of this sort of change to the working environment. We will also provide you with schedules and useful information for the move within the MIB.
Our Next Contract - The Negotiations are Complete. What's Next? -- The Union and NPS Management have reached the end of negotiations to update and consolidate the Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) for all of the NTEU Chapters in NPS. For the first time ever, we did not have to go to a third party to resolve any issues. At the Lunch and Learn meeting, we will explain what happens next, and who can participate in this process and how. We will also give a brief summary of what is in the CBA that is of value to you. We will also explain why the CBA matters to you.
Moratorium on New Proposed Telework Changes Implementation – A Brief Status Report -- The Union has challenged Management's proposal to require all teleworking bargaining unit members to be in the office at least 50% of the time. At the meeting, we will explain what "bargaining unit employee" means. Also, we will describe why the Union is contesting this issue and what is the case's status. Finally, we will describe what you should do if this policy applies to you.
Union National President's Meeting with the NPS Director — A Brief Report -- At the meeting, we will describe the recent meeting between Union National President Doreen Greenwald and NPS Director Sams.
Annual Leave Use or Lose Deadlines — A Reminder and a Clarification -- At the meeting, we will explain what the deadlines for scheduling Use or Lose annual leave mean and don't mean. We will also describe how to give yourself the best chance to restore any leave that you might lose.
Public Transit Subsidy Program Deadline — A Reminder -- We will remind you of the November 30th deadline for signing up for the transit subsidy program.
Health Insurance Program Open Season — A Union Source of Information -- There are more than 170 health plans to choose from during this year's open season. We will describe a tool that Union members have to compare plans and thus make your decision making easier.
Recent Chapter Activities for WASO Staff – At every monthly meeting, we share with you a brief report on the kinds of activities the Union has undertaken on your behalf. We will not name names or specific offices. We believe that a number of WASO staff are unaware of the kinds of things that the Union does.
Other Topics -- If there is time, we will discuss additional issues or anything else you want to raise.
All WASO staff members are welcome! Please join us. Enjoy lunch with your co-workers while you learn the latest news from Chapter 296.
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