NewsFlashes:

NTEU 245 Online News Flash . . . Keeping in Touch with You!     January 16, 2001 DIFFICULTY OF GOODS We have renewed discussions regarding difficulty of computer and machinery goods. RIGHTFAX MONITORING The Office is monitoring your RightFax usage. Please be aware of this when using that program. ATTRITION DOCKETS We have concerns about the office not following how attrition dockets and mentoring are supposed to be handled under the GS-14 deal. These concerns will be raised with the office. MISASSIGNED FILING DATES We continue to discuss with the office the impact that some trademark applications filed in May were assigned incorrect June filing dates. NEW BONUS PLAN Remember that in order to collect under the new bonus structure you must be at least fully successful in all elements of the PAP during the first six months. We are also discussing options for attorneys that do more than 1650 points in a six-month period (the ceiling in the bonus plan in the contract, which is still under agency head review). We are also discussing when the first six-month period will end. THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN Effective with the May 15, 2001 TSP "Open Season," participants in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) will be able to invest 11 percent of salary (up from 10 percent).  Under the new legislation federal employees will eventually be able to contribute to their TSP accounts up to the IRS limit for retirement contributions, currently $10,500 a year.  The new limits for federal workers will be phased in over five years. HOTELLING The Union is discussing with the office the possibility of having up to 20 attorneys work down the street in a hotelling arrangement which calls for them to only come into the office one day a week.  This would result in 20 more attorneys being able to work at home. QUALITY REVIEW Reports indicate that quality review is not being done on a timely basis. We are addressing the issue with management. OVERTIME AND COMP TIME You may start working comp and overtime on your six month anniversary date. You do not have to wait until the start of the next bi-week. Remember that you do have to "sign-up" for pre-approval of the time. You may sign up for up to 32 hours per bi-week, but you are not required to work any of the hours you signed up for. Finally, you must be at least fully successful in all the critical elements of your PAP to be eligible for comp and/or overtime. CAFETERIA SURVEY A cafeteria survey will be distributed shortly to see what kind of food people are interested in having at our new campus facility. REVIVALS We are looking into whether a disproportionate number of revived files will be hitting the law offices as a result of attorneys who started on 12/18 processing these petitions.   [back to top]