Monday, March 25, 2013

Marine claims he was 'humiliated' by TSA

Article Title: TSA accused of 'humiliating' Marine in wheelchair

Snippet of Article: "...The controversy took hold after witnesses traveling with Cpl. Toran Gaal, an wounded Marine, contacted Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., to say TSA agents forced Gaal to remove his prosthetic legs and try to walk at the checkpoint. ..."

Source: www.usatoday.com

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Our elected officials have failed us to help the wealthy

Article Title: Obama formally orders 'deeply destructive' sequestration cuts, blames Congress

Snippet of Article: "...congressional Republicans failed to reach a deal to avert automatic reductions that could dampen economic growth and curb military readiness...."

Source: www.chicagotribune.com

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Federal worker furlough pay calculator

Article Title: Furlough pay calculator released for federal workers

Snippet of Article: "...Federal workers now have a convenient way to calculate their loss in pay if planned furloughs of about 800,000 Defense Department civilians take effect...."

Source: www.stripes.com

Monday, February 18, 2013

Federal workers could start facing furloughs

Article Title: Sequester no joke for federal workers; furloughs could start in April

Snippet of Article: "...Federal workers could start facing furloughs as early as April, according to federal agencies..."

Source: www.businessrecord.com Furloughs

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Possibility of furloughs closer to becoming reality

Article Title: White House warns of ‘hundreds of thousands’ furloughs

Snippet of Article: "...Federal agencies will begin implementing cuts amounting to 13 percent for defense programs and 9 percent for non-defense programs on March 1, unless Congress acts to prevent them...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Federal Employee Furloughs

Monday, February 11, 2013

2014 Federal Employee Pay Raise

Article Title: Obama to propose 1 percent pay hike for federal employees

Snippet of Article: "...President Obama will propose a 1 percent pay raise for federal civilian employees in the administration’s fiscal 2014 budget proposal..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com 2014 Federal Employee Pay Raise

Thursday, February 7, 2013

USPS looking at possibility of more buyout incentives

Article Title: USPS employees to see less overtime, more buyouts under 5-day delivery plan

Snippet of Article: "..."We think by eliminating overtime and by looking at some of the flexibilities we have with the part-time workforce, and potentially working with the unions on some buyouts, we'll easily hit that." ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com buyouts

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Government "streamlining" their way out of business

Article Title: OPM plans to shake up charity program raise concerns about reduced donations

Snippet of Article: "...a move to electronic-only donations would seem to put CFC at risk of losing a majority of its donors. The proposal worries executives of some charitable organizations, even as they welcome other sections of the plan...."

Source: washingtonpost.com

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Federal offices in DC to open at noon on Monday

Article Title: DC federal offices to open at noon on Monday

Snippet of Article: "...Federal offices in Washington, D.C. will open at 12 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28, due to inclement weather expected in the region. The Office of Personnel Management is asking federal employees to stay off the roads until 10 a.m. ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Federal Employee: Is a furlough in your future?

Article Title: Bracing for furloughs: DoD, others begin detailed sequester planning

Snippet of Article: "...Federal agencies are girding for mass furloughs and other cutbacks as across-the-board budget reductions loom in barely a month. “Hundreds of thousands” of employees face unpaid..."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Federal Employee questions on budgetary threats

Article Title: 10 questions and answers on budgetary threats to federal employees

Snippet of Article: "...Federal employees are facing a triple threat of their own: from the government hitting its debt ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

2013 Federal Pay Raise Vote Delayed

Article Title: House Vote to Block Federal Workers' Pay Raise Postponed

Snippet of Article: "...The measure, sponsored by Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., would prevent a 0.5 percent pay raise set in April for federal employees, which is estimated to cost about $11 million a year. No new date for floor action on the vote has been set – but it would not occur until next month at the earliest. ..."

Source: www.nationaljournal.com

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Sunday, January 20, 2013

Additional Postal closures announced - speeding up the demise of a once great institution

Article Title: USPS Announces Additional Closings/Consolidations

Snippet of Article: "... An additional eighteen, (18), facilities are now on the chopping block for calendar year 2013. The list of facilities is also attached. It is anticipated that these facilities will be impacted mid-year, (although the Postal Service has not announced an exact time frame yet)...."

Source: www.npmhu.org

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Defense prepping for layoffs, furloughs and hiring freezes

Article Title: Military services to freeze hiring, lay off temps, prep for furloughs

Snippet of Article: "...The Defense Department is freezing civilian hiring, laying off temporary workers, considering furloughs for hundreds of thousands of civilian employees, and cutting back on contracts to prepare for the likelihood of severe budget reductions this year...."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Congress again holds America hostage to protect the wealthy

Article Title: Fiscal issues put federal workers in crosshairs — again

Snippet of Article: "...If Congress doesn’t raise the nation’s debt ceiling, which limits the amount Sam can borrow to pay his bills, Obama made it clear that federal employees will be among those who suffer...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Sunday, January 13, 2013

More definitive roadmap to become senior level managers

Article Title: OPM better defines leadership development roadmap

Snippet of Article: "...Federal employees aspiring to become senior level managers now have a more definitive roadmap to follow. The Office of Personnel Management just released the Federal Supervisory Training Framework. ..."

Source: www.federalnewsradio.com

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Letter Carriers (NALC) settle contract arbitration

Article Title: Arbitration board issues award: Sets terms of the 2011-2016 National Agreement; ‘NALC achieves its major goals,’ Rolando says

Snippet of Article: "...The three-person board of arbitrators has issued a final and binding award that sets the terms of a four-and-a-half-year collective-bargaining agreement between the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service, NALC President Fredric Rolando announced on Jan. 11...."

Source: www.nalc.org NALC, Letter Carriers, National Contract Award, 2013 COLA, NALC COLA,

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Treausury employees get more time in planned relocation

Article Title: 450 Treasury employees get reprieve on planned relocation

Snippet of Article: "...The employees initially had until January 2015 to relocate as part of an effort to consolidate the Treasury Department’s Financial Management Service with the Bureau of Public Debt. The new timeline gives the employees until the end of 2019...."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

You just took a big pay cut, no matter how they want you to look at it

Article Title: Obama Already Getting Flak for the Payroll Tax Hike

Snippet of Article: "...Obama described the bill as “preventing a middle-class tax hike” that could have hurt families and sent the country back into a recession; that is true, but it allowed another middle-class tax hike that could have the same effect. He also said that middle-class families “will not see their income taxes go up.” That is false, unless one goes along with the idea — and most of Washington does — that payroll taxes, which are on income and levied by the federal government, are not federal income taxes...."

Source: www.nationalreview.com

2013 Federal employee pay raise shoved over fiscal cliff

Article Title: House votes to freeze congressional, federal worker pay

Snippet of Article: "...The fiscal cliff deal, passed with 89 votes in the Senate, includes language that would block a 0.5 percent cost of living pay increase for lawmakers, reversing parts of an executive order Obama issued last week – because Congress had yet to set the federal government’s pay scale for 2013...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com 2013 Federal employee pay raise

Monday, December 31, 2012

Federal workers brace for furloughs

Article Title: Federal workers brace for furloughs

Snippet of Article: "...Federal workers are bracing for furloughs that could start to take place in the next few months if Congress doesn't replace massive budget cuts scheduled to begin Wednesday...."

Source: money.cnn.com

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Boehner pushes for chained CPI

Article Title: Boehner pushes COLA cuts in fiscal cliff talks

Snippet of Article: "...Multiple news organizations are reporting that House Speaker John Boehner included the so-called chained Consumer Price Index in his latest proposal to President Obama seeking to avert the fiscal cliff...."

Source: federaltimes.com chained CPI

Friday, December 28, 2012

2013 Federal Employee pay raise

Article Title: New AFGE president suggests retroactive pay raise for feds

Snippet of Article: "...Obama announced earlier this week that he would use his authority to grant federal employees the across-the-board 0.5 percent pay raise he had proposed for 2013, but only after Congress passes a budget. ..."

Source: www.govexec.com 2013 Federal Employee pay raise

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Federal employee furloughs not expected for civilian defense workforce

Article Title: Officials say WPAFB temporary layoffs might be 'unavoidable' in budgets

Snippet of Article: "...job furloughs for the civilian defense workforce won’t be used right away if a deal is not struck this week to avert the fiscal cliff, but the Pentagon’s top leader said temporary layoffs later might be unavoidable...."

Source: www.journal-news.com

Monday, December 24, 2012

Contractors first to feel fiscal cliff dive

Article Title: Sequestration already hitting contractors

Snippet of Article: "...the threat of draconian budget cuts has caused federal agencies to realize new priorities, alter their procurement strategies, add scrutiny to their spending and — through collaboration with industry — seek ways to reduce waste and increase efficiency. Months of this kind of planning won’t end if sequestration dies...."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Sunday, December 23, 2012

President Obama gives Federal Employees Christmas Eve Off

Article Title: President gives federal workers day off work for Christmas Eve

Snippet of Article: "...President Obama on Friday signed an executive order giving federal employees a day off work for Christmas Eve, which falls on Monday this year. ..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Furloughs for federal employees as a last resort

Article Title: Furloughs could result from sequestration as last resort, administration says

Snippet of Article: "...plans to inform federal employees that furloughs could result as a last resort if the White House and Congress do not come to an agreement..."

Source: www.washingtonpost.com Federal Employee furloughs

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

This is how the USPS treats those that serve our country

Article Title: Guardsman ordered reinstated by Postal Service with back pay

Snippet of Article: "...USPS continued to pursue the case even after Erickson won two decisions before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. When the USPS refused to reinstate Erickson in 2000, the father of three from Ft. Meyers, Fla., re-enlisted in the National Guard and deployed to Afghanistan as part of a Special Forces team. He has received over 35 medals and decorations..."

Source: www.stripes.com

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Postmaster General Earns Almost As Much As the President

Article Title: Postal chief's $384,000 pay sparks call for cut

Snippet of Article: "...The chief of the struggling U.S. Postal Service received $384,229 in compensation last year -- and at least one lawmaker thinks he should take a paycut...."

Source: money.cnn.com

Monday, December 17, 2012

virtual workplace flexibility toolkit launched by DOL

Article Title: DOL launches virtual workplace flexibility toolkit

Snippet of Article: "...Department of Labor launched its online Workplace Flexibility Toolkit to provide employees, jobseekers, employers, policymakers, and researchers with information, resources, and a unique approach to workplace flexibility, including leave issues. ..."

Source: blr.com Workplace Flexibility Toolkit

Friday, December 14, 2012

Things TSA found in baggage this week

Article Title: TSA Week in Review: A Roundup of the Prohibited Items Discovered This Week

Snippet of Article: "...It’s important to check your bags prior to traveling. If a prohibited item is discovered in your bag, you could be cited and possibly arrested by local law enforcement. Here are a few examples from this week where prohibited items were found in strange places. ..."

Source: tsa.gov

Congress gotta get home for Christmas before screwing over Social Security and Medicare

Article Title: Congress: Merry Christmas, suckers

Snippet of Article: "...Speaker John Boehner told members to go home for Christmas but be back the next day. (Congress = The Bart Simpson who stole Christmas?)..."

Source: firstread.nbcnews.com

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Federal worker fatally shoots self inside Alabama courthouse

Article Title: Federal employee fatally shoots self inside Alabama courthouse

Snippet of Article: "...Police say a federal employee is dead after shooting himself inside the city's main federal court building in Birmingham...."

Source: www.foxnews.com

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Obama Administration Increases Solid Federal Jobs, Many Taking Care of Military Personnel

Article Title: Drudge Ignores That Many New Federal Employees Take Care Of Veterans

Snippet of Article: "...the increase in federal jobs are a result of defense spending, including an increase in hiring associated with caring for military personnel returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Examining claims about increased federal employment, PolitiFact found that "all told, national defense, assisting veterans, and protecting the national borders account for close to 90% of all federal civilian employee growth." ..."

Source: mediamatters.org

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Federal government’s heaviest smoker

Article Title: Booze, smokes focus of quirky federal agency

Snippet of Article: "...These are the scientists, rule-makers and trade ambassadors of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, one of the federal government’s least-known and most peculiar corners...."

Source: www.delawareonline.com

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Federal Agencies to Protect Indian Sacred Sites

Article Title: Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, and Interior Sign Memorandum to Collaborate to Protect Indian Sacred Sites

Snippet of Article: "..."Protecting America's air and water and our nation's heritage is an important part of the Energy Department's commitment to Tribal Nations across the country, particularly those that are neighbors to the Department's National Laboratories, sites and facilities," said Energy Secretary Steven Chu. "I look forward to continuing this important work and collaborating with other federal agencies and Tribal Nations to protect Indian sacred sites throughout the United States." ..."

Source: www.usda.gov

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

GOP still pushing for federal employee pay freezes and reductions

Article Title: House GOP continues to push federal employee pay and benefits reforms

Snippet of Article: "... House GOP leaders on Monday reiterated their belief that reductions to federal employees’ compensation should be part of a deal to decrease the deficit. Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio,..."

Source: www.govexec.com

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Postal Service awards $30m contract to firm it is suing for $390m

Article Title: USPS awards $30m contract to firm it is suing for $390m

Snippet of Article: "...The US Postal Service has awarded a $30m contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation at the same time it is attempting to sue the company over breaches of another contract, seeking a nine-figure sum...."

Source: postandparcel.info Postal Service, why is the Postal Service going broke?,

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Did the $5.9 million federal gun grant do any good?

Article Title: Did the $5.9 million federal gun grant make region safer?

Snippet of Article: "...eight Northern Ohio cities with a $5.9 million grant and the creation of an Ohio Gun Crime Center. The Justice Department gave the grant to the group, which included Cleveland, Akron, Toledo, Youngstown, Lorain, Elyria, Canton, Mansfield and state and federal agencies...."

Source: www.cleveland.com