This week the entire bargaining team is at the table with TSA. We are discussing each side’s proposed contract language on transfers and shift and annual leave bid. We have not agreed to anything yet, but we are definitely making progress. Please make sure you keep your coworkers updated. Join, Support, Win!
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We have the entire bargaining team in this week for negotiations. We have broken into two groups. Today the groups are working on shift and annual leave bid and parking. We are making progress but have not agreed to anything yet. Stay tuned for more updates…
United We Bargain, Divided We Beg-Join, Support, Win!
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The first 90-day period for bargaining ended on May 9th. We are now working on a 30-day extension, so negotiations are headed into the final weeks. Last week at the bargaining table we discussed both sides’ proposals on Shift Trades and Part-Time to Full-Time Conversion and Vice Versa. We are going to discuss Shift and Annual Leave Bid and Special Assignments this week. We have not come to an agreement on anything yet. The next negotiating session is scheduled from Tuesday May 15, 2012 to May 25th. I will update you as negotiations progress.
Your bargaining team is working hard to get you the best contract possible! JOIN-SUPPORT-WIN
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Hi gang,
We’ll be holding a conference call next week with Administrator Pistole and want to pass on your messages. Using constructive, positive language, what message do you want us to pass on?
As always, no SSI and remember that the blog is public and viewable by anyone.
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This week the bargaining team is at the AFGE National Office in DC working all day to develop contract language on contract language for the 11 items that we developed options for over the past few weeks at the table. Today the bargaining team has broken into subgroups to go over and tighten up the language. We will send all of our language to TSA by the end of this week and plan to meet with TSA next week to discuss the language developed by the bargaining team and reviewed by the subgroups.
We are nearing the end of the first 90 day time frame. We have been meeting with TSA every week to go through the IBB bargaining process and concluded reviewing the options on the 11 subjects last week. As mentioned above, we have discussed all of the options on the 11 subjects of bargaining. We are drafting language on some things TSA said they are not interested in or that they believe are non-negotiable. The Chief Negotiators from both teams will mutually agree on the 30-day extension and the schedule for bargaining over the next 30 days. I will post once we have reached mutual agreement with TSA.
LOCAL PRESIDENTS – All proposals will be posted on the Bargaining Congress website for your access once we have finished writing them for your review and comments. Please make sure the members know what we are proposing to TSA management. Keep in mind that we may not get everything we are asking for, but the more support we have from the membership the more we have to fight with. Don’t forget to keep signing up new members. Organize, organize, organize!
President Gage, NVP Flynn, GCO David Borer and AFGE staff are supporting the subgroups writing language. The bargaining team subgroups are as follows:
TSA Unit Employees on AFGE’s Bargaining Team (by Subgroup):
PASS, Awards and recognitions, Selection process for special assignments:
Robert McNeil
Dennis Acevedo
Hydrick Thomas
Attendance management, Shift and annual leave bid processes, transfers, shift trades:
Myron Williams
Kim Kraynak-Lambert
Stacy Bodtmann
Al Jackimowicz
Uniforms and uniforms allowances, parking, facilities and services:
Ana Aulet
Jerome Coleman
Eric Wood
Brittny Hale
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This week is an “off” week for bargaining, but your bargaining team continues to work hard. We are analyzing the options and what TSOs need and drafting contract proposals this week while we are not at the bargaining table. Late last week we assessed the options for facilities and services and PASS. We are pushing hard to get you more and better facilities and services. From your comments and other feedback from TSOs, we requested equipped break rooms (e.g. water fountains or bottled water; refrigerators; a microwave; and securable lockers to store personal belongings). We also asked for AFGE to have more access to TSOs including providing AFGE use of space for meetings with employees before or after work, or during break and lunch periods; bulletin boards; allowing AFGE-designated local union officials or AFGE staff to be present as part of all new employee orientation programs and at least once a month at shift change meetings; and for TSA to provide specific prior notice to the union for all formal meetings and all changes in local or national policies and procedures. We want improvements to make the worksites safer for TSOs, for example by providing dosimeters to all bargaining unit employees; installing a hot button/panic button at work stations; installing anti-fatigue mats at all workstations; eliminating glare from work areas or provide TSOs with sunglasses; supplying workstations with both powder- and powder-free gloves; and provide 10-minute wash-up time at the beginning of break or lunch. We are pushing for facilities for nursing mothers accessible to all bargaining unit employees, access to on-site gyms or a subsidy for gym memberships; designated changing areas for TSOs; day-care facilities on-site or day care subsidies; and to locate time clocks no more than 50 feet from where TSOs need to arrive for pre-shift briefing. When you are taking your PSEs, we want the tests to be given using the same equipment that is at the airport, not simulated scenarios and that testing be based upon observations of TSOs doing their job. We asked for a few things related to parking and transportation which we also covered in the parking options, like requesting that TSA engage the appropriate entities to acquire secure, adequate parking that is the closest and most convenient parking location for bargaining unit employees and to ensure that TSOs with disabilities have consideration in parking. TSA said that some of the items on our list were outside of the scope of bargaining or not appropriately placed in facilities and services, but also said they would consider some of our options. We will continue to fight to expand facilities and services available to TSOs, and if you have any more comments or suggestions please let me know!
We are pushing TSA to develop a performance management system with concrete, transparent performance goals that could allow all employees to achieve the highest level of achievement. Our major interest was to separate the certification process from performance, but we also want to incorporate a mechanism to dispute performance ratings. We made it clear to TSA that we want TSOs to know where they stand at all times with written quarterly evaluations with a numerical rating and utilizing frequent, timely and reasonable discussions about ongoing performance standing and performance concerns. We let TSA know that their managers need to have more informal discussions with you throughout the appraisal period, and we proposed a support plan for employees with performance problems similar to what other Federal agencies have.
Keep in mind that we have not agreed to any contract language yet. We are still fighting through this process. Please keep your coworkers informed on what your bargaining committee is working on and provide feedback on the work that is being done. This update is fairly comprehensive, but please let us know if there is something we missed that you think we should present to management.
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Ana Angelet, who previously updated this site, fell ill a few months ago. I am posting to catch you up on all that has happened with TSA negotiations and our current status.
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At approximately 5:30 p.m. on January 11, negotiators for AFGE and TSA reached agreement on ground rules for the upcoming collective bargaining negotiations. The parties were able to break the logjam that has delayed the start of negotiations for a first contract for the 44,000 TSA officers represented by AFGE. We’ll have more details in the coming days.
Photo: AFGE National President John Gage (right) and TSA Chief Negotiator Bob Ball sign the Ground Rules as Federal Nediation and Conciliation Service mediator Lynn Sylvester looks on.
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Not exactly negotiations-related but important nevertheless. We’ve heard lately that some members weren’t aware that they are allowed a union representative in any meeting with management that may result in discipline.
AFGE Acting Supervising Attorney for TSA Chad Harris explains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=t-A1DmReagE
Here’s also the TSO Voice that went out in October about the Weingarten Rights:
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Photos from the Bargaining Conference meeting in Orlando are posted on our Flickr site.
Meeting photos – http://www.flickr.com/photos/afgetsa/sets/72157627852968597/
Local/District photos – http://www.flickr.com/photos/afgetsa/sets/72157627844997109/
Photos are free to download. Here’s help from Flickr on downloading: Select the photo and open the actions menu, then click the ‘”View all Sizes” link inside the menu. On the next page, choose the size you want to download and click the link in the “Download” section. Please feel free to use the photos for Local materials.
*Local presidents and/or bargaining team members who had head shots taken can request a copy of those photos by emailing Emily Ryan at ryane@afge.org.
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