Saturday, July 30, 2011

Will Federal Workers get paid?

Article Title: The priority list: Who will get paid if government defaults?

Snippet of Article: "...Likely losers: federal workers in jobs deemed non-essential, private contractors and state and local governments. ..."

Source: www.siliconvalley.com

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Another post office closure study (List of offices provided)

Article Title: Postal Service Takes Next Step in Optimizing Retail Network

Snippet of Article: "...the U.S. Postal Service announced today that it will be taking the next step in right-sizing its expansive retail network by conducting studies of approximately 3,700 retail offices to determine customer needs...."

Source: usps.com



Here is the list Expanded Access study list

Monday, July 25, 2011

FAA Employees to be Furloughed

Article Title: Thousands of FAA Employees to be Furloughed

Snippet of Article: "...The furloughs come as Congress can't agree on an extension of the agency's funding...."

Source: www.myfoxdc.com

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Will a government shutdown result if the debt ceiling is not raised?

Article Title: Federal workers ask for information on possible government shutdown

Snippet of Article: "...federal workers have written to the administration to find out who will be expendable..."

Source: thehill.com

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Fear of potential shifts in federal government retirement benefits

Article Title: Change in COLA Formula Opposed

Snippet of Article: "...NARFE and other federal employee-focused organizations, however, fear potential shifts in federal government retirement benefits...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com federal government retirement benefits

Thursday, July 7, 2011

1.6 percent pay increase for service personnel for 2012 on track

Article Title: Defense Budget Increase Sailing Through House

Snippet of Article: "...In addition to a 1.6 percent pay increase for service personnel, the fine print of the bill includes dozens of projects favored by individual legislators whose districts benefit from Pentagon spending...."

Source: gooznews.com

Monday, June 27, 2011

legislator that would harm federal employees?

Article Title: Constituents, Union to Protest Anti-Worker Lawmaker

Snippet of Article: "...The American Federation of Government Employees is organizing the rally outside Rep. Scott's West Ashley office to bring attention to policies being championed by the legislator that would harm federal employees and hard-working Americans in South Carolina and across the country...."

Source: www.prnewswire.com

How about a five percent pay cut?

Article Title: Unions urge administration to protect FERS pensions

Snippet of Article: "...an increase in employee contributions represents a selective rise in payroll tax that could exceed 5 percent of employees' income. ..."

Source: www.govexec.com

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Postal Service suspends pension payments

Article Title: Postal Service suspends retirement payments

Snippet of Article: "...“The Postal Service believes there will be no impact on employees. Also, the action will have no impact on current retirees,” said David A. Partenheimer, a Postal Service spokesperson. ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com USPS pension payments

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

President's Veterans Employment Initiative 2010 Increases Veterans Federal Employment Numbers

Article Title: More Than 72,000 Veterans Hired in Federal Government in FY 2010

President Obama's Veterans Employment Initiative Succeeding

Washington, DC - The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, a document which tells a success story of the hiring of 72,133 veterans in the federal government in FY 2010. This is an increase of approximately 2,000 more veterans than were hired in FY 2009.

"Through the President's Veterans Employment Initiative, OPM and our agency partners are helping tens of thousands of veterans and their families continue their legacy of service," said OPM Director John Berry. "These are some of the best, brightest and hardest-working Americans in the federal government. While we've accomplished a lot in the first year, too many veterans are still unemployed and we're going to keep pushing to do even better going forward."

The document also highlights two other important accomplishments. First, 25.6 percent of total new hires across the federal government in FY 2010 were veterans. This is a 1.6 percentage point increase from FY 2009. Second, of the veterans hired in FY 2010, 23,140 are disabled veterans compared to 20,448 in FY 2009. This is a 1.2 percentage point increase.

To view Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch for FY 2010, please visit www.FedsHireVets.gov.

- end -

Source: http://www.opm.gov/news/more-than-72000-veterans-hired-in-federal-government-in-fy-2010,1672.aspx

Monday, June 13, 2011

Rep. Darrell Issa wants more federal workforce reductions

Article Title: Shrink federal workforce by 10%: House GOP

Snippet of Article: "...10% by 2015. For every three retiring federal workers, the government would only be allowed to hire one replacement. The measure would would save an estimated $127.5 billion over 10 years if adopted, according to Reps. Darrell Issa of California, Dennis Ross of Florida and Jason Chaffetz of Utah, the bill's sponsors...."

Source: cnn.com

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Who wants to cut the salary of federal employees?

Article Title: Presidential hopeful would freeze federal salaries, reduce retirement benefits

Snippet of Article: "...GOP presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty on Wednesday called for freezing government salaries, reducing benefits and shrinking the federal workforce. ..."

Source: www.govexec.com

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Changes in FERS?

Article Title: 20 Percent Hike In Your Health Premiums?

Snippet of Article: "...The presidential commission on deficit reduction chaired by former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and former White House aide Erskine Bowles (National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform) produced a laundry list of cuts that would be presented to Congress...."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com Federal Employee Cuts, Federal Employee Health Benefits,

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Republican Senators: End FERS’s defined benefit pension

Article Title: How federal worker pensions might be targeted

Snippet of Article: "...Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) in March introduced a bill that would end FERS’s defined benefit pension for new employees beginning in 2013...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Federal Employee Retirement

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Federal Employee of the Year to be presented on September 15

Article Title: Finalists Announced for Outstanding Federal Employees

Snippet of Article: "...The finalists are contenders for eight prestigious Sammies, including Federal Employee of the Year, set to be presented on September 15 at a Washington, D.C. black-tie gala. The Service to America Medals have earned a reputation as the most prestigious awards dedicated to celebrating America’s civil servants...."

Source: www.fedsmith.com
Federal Employee of the Year,

Monday, April 25, 2011

Hatch Act Reminder for Federal Employees

Article Title: Officials remind federal employees about Obama photos during campaign season

Snippet of Article: "...The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from engaging in political activity while on the job or using government vehicles. The U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which enforces the law, regularly updates its official guidance on the law around campaign season...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Hatch Act

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Suspicious boxes found at Federal Reserve Bank in Detroit last week

Article Title: Detroit Police Bomb Squad called into Federal Reserve Bank in Detroit

Snippet of Article: "...The Detroit Police Department Bomb Squad has given the all-clear after being called in to the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Detroit Branch Monday morning...."

Source: www.wxyz.com Federal Reserve Bank in Detroit

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Paul Ryan is reverse of Robin Hood

Article Title: Paul Ryan's Budget Plan: Trillions for the Rich, Pain for Everyone Else

Snippet of Article: "...The tax cuts that conservatives have been pushing shows that they are not serious about addressing government deficits and debt. What they are serious about is increasing the wealth of the rich...."

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Friday, April 15, 2011

Republican budget cuts Federal Pay

Article Title: House passes bill that would cut fed pay, benefits

Snippet of Article: "...The House on Friday passed a Republican budget plan for fiscal 2012 that would freeze federal employees' step increases and pay raises for five years, cut the government's workforce by 10 percent, and require feds to pay much more into their pension plans...."

Source: www.federaltimes.com federal employee pay, Federal Pay Freeze, Federal Step Increase Freeze, Federal Job Cuts,

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The secret budget ... or protecting the elite ...DC Mayor arrested while protesting

Article Title: Budget cut details hammered out in secrecy

Snippet of Article: "...since they don’t know what the cuts will be and have no input in the process, they have no way of persuading lawmakers to take action.

“It’s very frustrating, because there are no details — we’re all waiting for information,’’ said Geoffrey Beckwith, executive director of the Massachusetts Municipal Association...."

Source: www.boston.com secret budget, budget details, Attacks on working class, DC Mayor arrested, protesting budget,

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Budget Details

Article Title: Schumer: Details of budget cuts arriving Monday

Snippet of Article: "...“The cuts are across the board. Everybody gives some pain,” Schumer said. “But as for the specifics, those are going to be published Monday.”..."

Source: cnn.com budget details, budget cuts,

Friday, April 8, 2011

Shutdown averted

Article Title: Here's How Paul Ryan's Budget Plan Screws Old People

Snippet of Article: "...the vouchers will cover less and less of the costs that Medicare covers today...."

Source: www.businessinsider.com Federal shutdown averted

Will you get paid in a government shutdown?

Article Title: Who gets paid if government shuts down?

Snippet of Article: "...active duty military and civilian government workers could see some of their pay delayed in a shutdown...."

Source: www.pnj.com Government shutdown pay, retirement pay during shutdown,

Government Shutdown News

Article Title: Government Shutdown: What to Expect

Snippet of Article: "...the reality of a possible government shutdown sets in, Washington Wire looks at what to expect from a temporary closure..."

Source: blogs.wsj.com Government shutdown news, Federal Shutdown news, shutdown news

Government shutdown and unemployment

Article Title: Furloughed federal workers can apply for unemployment

Snippet of Article: "...You file in the state in which you work, but it's different in each jurisdiction. ..."

Source: www.wtop.com Federal Government shutdown and unemployment

Government Shutdown: Abortion Agenda or Budget

Article Title: Reid Says Democrats Agree to $38 Billion in U.S. Budget Cuts

Snippet of Article: "...The two sides had agreed on everything but a $300 million cut for Planned Parenthood that House Republicans want included in a budget resolution to carry the government through the rest of the 2011 fiscal year, one Democratic official said earlier today. ..."

Source: www.bloomberg.com Federal Shutdown, Government Shutdown,

Thursday, April 7, 2011

How would a Government Shutdown affect you?

Article Title: How a government shutdown might affect you

Snippet of Article: "...Recipients of entitlement checks such as Social Security and Welfare can also rest easy. The government would continue to send out checks..."

Source: www.examiner.com Federal Shutdown, Government Shutdown, shutdown plans,

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Guidance and Information on Federal Furlough Website Announced

Article Title: The Potential Impact of a Lapse in Appropriations on Federal Employees

Snippet of Article: "...The President has made it clear that he does not want a government shutdown, and the Administration is willing and ready to work day and night to find a solution that all sides can agree with. That said, given the realities of the calendar, prudent management requires we plan for an orderly shutdown should the negotiations not be completed by the end of the current continuing resolution...."

Source: www.opm.gov/furlough2011 government shutdown guidance, federal employee furlough,

OPM request that federal health insurance programs provide incentives

Article Title: OPM asks health insurers to provide incentives for wellness programs

Snippet of Article: "...told representatives of companies providing coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program that they should encourage healthy lifestyles by offering “concrete incentives to participate in wellness and prevention activities.”..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

Monday, April 4, 2011

Federal shutdown news

Article Title: Feared federal shutdown is bad, but it's not end of world

Snippet of Article: "...What about the mail? What about the parks and forests? What about our wars?..."

Source: www.greatfallstribune.com federal shutdown

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Requesting Veterans' Service Records

Article Title: Requesting Veterans' Service Records

Snippet of Article: "...Request records online with eVetRecs, Other Methods to Obtain Military Service Records, What's available online?, Locate older (pre-WW I) military service records, Using military records for genealogical research, Other military and veterans records, replace lost or damaged medals and awards ..."

Source: militaryvetnews.blogspot.com

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

White House is telling agencies not to talk about shutdown consequences

Article Title: Federal agencies guarded on possible shutdown plans

Snippet of Article: "...It continued: "Agencies should not be previewing shutdown plans — that is, policy and operational decisions — in any way." Agencies were instructed to clear any responses to questions about their shutdown plans with OMB...."

Source: www.usatoday.com Government shutdown

Sunday, March 27, 2011

AFGE represented employee rights and protections during a government shutdown

Article Title: Union demands concessions in the event of a government shutdown

Snippet of Article: "...the American Federation of Government Employees is taking a proactive approach in its planning, offering its members a detailed explanation of what the union sees as their rights and protections...."

Source: www.govexec.com

Thursday, March 24, 2011

USPS offering $20,000 buyouts, shutting seven district offices

Article Title: USPS to eliminate front-line supervisor positions

Snippet of Article: "...Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe has said will eliminate some 7,500 administrative, postmaster and front-line supervisory positions...."

Source: www.federaltimes.com Postal Supervisor cuts

Sunday, March 20, 2011

S.644 would eliminate pension portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System

Article Title: Senator proposes cuts to federal annuity benefits

Snippet of Article: "...Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., on Thursday introduced a bill (S. 644) that would eliminate the pension portion of the Federal Employees Retirement System for all new government hires beginning in 2013...."

Source: www.govexec.com S. 644

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Federal Shutdown would halt some pay

Article Title: Shutdown would halt military pay

Snippet of Article: "...The memo states all military personnel would have to work without pay. But many civilian employees would be furloughed. ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Postal Workers Settle Union Contract (tentative collective bargaining agreement)

Article Title: Highlights of the New Collective Bargaining Agreement

Snippet of Article: "...COLAs for 2011 were waived, and COLAs for 2012 are deferred until 2013...."

Source: contractnegotiations.blogspot.com

Sunday, March 13, 2011

TSA officer accused of aiding drug suspects

Article Title: TSA officer accused of aiding drug suspects

Snippet of Article: "...The 43-year-old Transportation Security Administration employee was arrested on charges that she provided information to suspected drug traffickers and helped them get past security checkpoints with minimum scrutiny...."

Source: www.buffalonews.com Minnetta Walker, TSA, behavioral detection officer, Buffalo Niagara International Airport

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Threats against a Federal Employee

Article Title: Man Accused of Threatening Federal Employee

Snippet of Article: "...A Port Washington man was arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a Social Security employee over the phone on Wednesday...."

Source: www.longislandpress.com

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Postal Service will not cut 30,000 but expects reductions of 30,000 this year

Article Title: Despite reports, Postal Service not cutting 30,000 jobs

Snippet of Article: "...In response to declining mail volume, the Postal Service has cut more than 230,000 positions in recent years by implementing hiring freezes, offering early retirement packages or through attrition...."

Source: washingtonpost.com USPS early retirement packages