NewsFlashes:

NTEU 245 Online News Flash . . . Keeping in Touch with You!     November 17, 2000 NON-COMPETITIVE GS-14 An agreement was reached last night; details will be forthcoming. Attorneys will now have the opportunity to automatically become a GS-14 by meeting certain criteria UNPAID OVERTIME In response to our repeated requests for action on this issue, NTEU National is coming to meet with the bargaining unit on Wednesday December 6 from noon to 2:00 PM to discuss this issue. Please plan on attending if this issue affects or interests you. COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS The Executive Board is committed to increasing the information flow to the Bargaining Unit. Information was limited this past year due to IBB restrictions. We will produce a News Flash following every E-Board meeting. Also check out our web site, which is frequently updated. PRIORITIES FOR THE UPCOMING YEAR Following the elections, the new Executive Board met to discuss priorities for the upcoming fiscal year. They include: obtaining a non-competitive GS 14 (which was accomplished); increasing the number of people working at home; increasing compensation; implementing changes to the examination process that will increase productivity; reducing the administrative burden on examiners; addressing the unpaid overtime issue; receiving adequate mentoring and training; and minimizing doubling of offices. Please see any member of the board with any other ideas or concerns. SEEKING CLASS REPRESENTATIVES The Union is seeking one volunteer from each training class for the past three years to serve as a liaison between that class and the Executive Board. The representative must be a member of the union, and non-production time will be provided for official meetings. Please see any Executive Board member. BROWN BAG LUNCHES FOR NEW ATTORNEYS The Executive Board will be sponsoring a series of brown bag lunches for new attorneys to provide examination, organizational and production tips. Details coming soon. SPACE AND DOUBLING OF OFFICES We are very concerned with the impending doubling of offices. The office had agreed to notify examiners when another desk, computer or person will be occupying an office, but has yet to do so. ETHICS TRAINING TRAVEL TIME Management agreed to give non-production time for travel to and from Crystal Park 2 for the recent ethics training. Please request this time if your manager has not yet notified you of this. ADMINISTRATIVE ERRORS In response to concerns we have raised, management is supposed to send out a letter explaining what they are doing about: inadequate support staff levels; problems with incorrect applicant addresses; improving quality controls in pre-examination; and revising how TAC would handle status calls. TLTIA WRITE-OFF If your requests for TLTIA non-production time have been denied, please notify a member of the Executive Board immediately. Please remember that the listed examples of reasons to request time in the literature are not exhaustive. The forms are available on our web site at NTEU245.org. TLTIA Non-production form              TLTIA Guidelines for write-off

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