'...In March, Senate Republicans Richard Burr and Tom Coburn introduced legislation that would entirely eliminate pensions for government employees. They would still collect Social Security and hold 401k-style accounts....'
'...Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry announced the launch of USAJobsRecruit, an online community for agencies to showcase best practices, share marketing and outreach strategies, and post hiring events. ...'
'...“It is our duty to serve those who have so bravely served their country, and the innovative Mil2FedJobs site is one more way to ensure that Maryland’s veterans have the support they deserve,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Our one-of-a-kind website will help servicemen and women find federal job opportunities that best match their skills....'
'...Transport Safety Administration (TSA) officer Thomas Gordon Jnr. allegedly used Facebook to share the sick pictures of young girls and...'
'...It has not been an easy time for federal employees, with the pay freeze, attacks on the public sector, budget cutbacks and then the threat of a government shutdown....'
'...The FBI says 42-year-old Gary John Mikulich left a tool bag filled with an explosive device outside the McNamara Federal Building in Detroit. ...'
'...“I think, frankly, the committee has engaged in a broad assault on federal employees in every aspect,” Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) said after the hearing. Why else, he asked, would the panel “spend hours and hours on a bill of such little import?”...'
'...would terminate the employment of federal workers who are seriously delinquent on their taxes and another that prevents seriously delinquent taxpayers from getting a job with the federal workforce....'
'...the GOP plan would transform the nation's Medicare program, changing it from a government-run system that pays seniors' health bills into a system where seniors buy insurance plans...'
Monday, January 2* New Year's Day
Monday, January 16 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 20** Washington's Birthday
Monday, May 28 Memorial Day
Wednesday, July 4 Independence Day
Monday, September 3 Labor Day
Monday, October 8 Columbus Day
Monday, November 12*** Veterans Day
Thursday, November 22 Thanksgiving Day
Tuesday, December 25 Christmas Day
'...Mayor Vincent Gray and six Council members including the chairman were among 41 people arrested Monday outside the Capitol while protesting the changes that might be inevitable. ...'
'..."The American people have been told the agreement contains both 'historic' and 'painful' cuts. The question will be painful for whom.
"Poor and middle class families have already received more than their fair share of pain in this economy while the wealthy and special interests have paid no price. ...'
'...The Senate passed a temporary resolution to keep the government funded beyond midnight, when it was scheduled to run out, until the full agreement can be drawn up and passed by Congress. That short-term bridge included the first $2 billion in cuts, officials said. ...'
'...It is possible that furloughed employees may become eligible for unemployment compensation. State unemployment compensation requirements differ. Some States require a 1-week waiting period before an individual qualifies for payments. Agencies or employees should submit questions to the appropriate State (or District of Columbia) office. In general, the law of the State in which an employee’s last official duty station in Federal civilian service was located will be the State law that determines eligibility for unemployment insurance benefits. (See the Department of Labor website "Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees" at http://workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/unemploy/unemcomp.asp.)...'
'...The Pentagon will continue military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, but US troops will work without pay, according to guidance issued late Thursday by the Defense Department....'
'...OMB Memorandum M-11-13, Planning for Agency Operations During a Lapse in Government Funding (April 7, 2011); OMB Circular A-11, July 2010; OMB Bulletin M-95-18 transmitting 8/16/95 Department of Justice opinion, (August 22, 1995); OMB Memorandum M-91-02, Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations, (October 5, 1990); OMB Bulletin No. 80-14, Supplement No. 1, Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations, (August 20, 1982); OMB Memorandum, Agency Operations in the Absence of Appropriations, (November 17, 1981); OMB Bulletin 80-14, Shutdown of Agency Operations Upon Failure by the Congress to Enact Appropriations, (August 28, 1980); ...'
'...Another would ban the District of Columbia from sending local tax money to groups that provide access to abortions.
The House GOP also is pressing for several provisions related to the EPA's ability to regulate greenhouse gases....'
'...The American Federation of Government Employees filed a lawsuit in federal court on March 30 seeking details on agencies’ shutdown plans, AFGE National President John Gage announced today at a National Press Club newsmaker event....'
'...Federal employees uncertain of whether they are going to work next week can reference a one-page document from the federal Office of Personnel Management for answers....'
'...Understandably, this situation has generated some anxiety among federal employees regarding how a government shutdown would affect them. Of particular concern is the fact that many federal employees would be “furloughed” or released without pay for the duration of that shutdown....'
'...Federal agencies do not have the authority to pay their employees during a shutdown, regardless of whether the employees are working as "excepted" or furloughed as "non-excepted". "Excepted" employees will receive pay for hours worked when the Congress passes and the President signs a new appropriation or continuing resolution. Congress will also determine whether "non-excepted" employees will receive pay for the furlough period. ...'
'...But what should you do if the federal government shuts down?
As you may know, a government shutdown, like the one experienced in 1995, is a very real possibility. Congress recently acted to...'
'...However, both sides seem confident that an agreement will be reached before Friday. ...'
'...During a press call yesterday for the Business Roundtable's Q1 CEO survey, Verizon (VZ) chief executive Ivan Seidenberg weighed in on the looming prospect of a US government shutdown....'
'...Reaching a federal budget accord in Congress by the April 8 deadline "appears increasingly difficult to achieve" making a government shutdown "more likely," according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. ...'
'...On April 8 the current resolution comes to an end, so federal agencies are preparing for a possible government shutdown if legislators of both parties can’t reach an agreement....'
The Announcement
PMG ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF SEVEN DISTRICTS
I am confident we have developed a strong plan that takes a key step toward a leaner and less bureaucratic structure.
As part of the ongoing redesign of the Postal Service, PMG Pat Donahoe yesterday announced USPS will close 7 of its 74 district offices. This reflects continuing alignments within the organization to achieve core business strategies and, when fully implemented, will help realize approximately $750 million of annual cost savings (Link Extra, 3/23).
The district offices scheduled for closure — Columbus, OH, (Eastern Area); Southeast Michigan in Troy, MI, and Northern Illinois in Carol Stream, IL (Great Lakes Area); Southeast New England in Providence, RI (Northeast Area); South Georgia in Macon, GA, and Albuquerque in Albuquerque, NM (Southwest Area); and Big Sky in Billings, MT (Western Area) — house only administrative functions that will be assumed by surrounding district offices. The closures will not affect customer service, mail delivery, Post Office operations or ZIP codes.
“I am confident we have developed a strong plan that takes a key step toward a leaner and less bureaucratic structure. One that is fair to our employees and one that will meet the future needs of our customers and the mailing industry,” said Donahoe.
This organizational redesign builds on previous PMG announcements that include a 16 percent reduction in officer ranks, realigning revenue-generating business units, closing the Southeast Area Office, and further reducing the employee complement by about 7,500 positions.
While yesterday’s announcement focused on the administrative and executive corps, additional staff reductions will occur as the Postal Service makes necessary changes to its network and retail operations. The full scope and financial impact of these personnel actions should be realized in one calendar year — by March 2012.
'...will eliminate some 7,500 administrative, postmaster and front-line supervisory positions. ...'
'...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. ...'
'...If the U.S. federal government shuts down, all military personnel would be required to continue working without pay, according to the memo. The military would continue to operate in Afghanistan, and troops would continue to prepare for deployment. But many civilian DoD employees could be furloughed. ...'
'...No fewer than 1,100 Call Center jobs that had been contracted out will be returned to the APWU bargaining unit. The Call Center locations will become part of the installation of the nearest Processing & Distribution Center, so that APWU members can bid on these positions....'
'...100 factories at 70 penitentiaries within the US; a self-sustaining, self-funding company owned wholly by the government, created by an act of Congress in 1934...'
'...In the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), enrollees share 30 percent of the premium costs.7 For optional dental and vision benefits, they pay 100 percent.8 For the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI), employees pay 66 percent of the basic premium, and the full cost of any additional coverage. For the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program, (FLTCIP) enrollees pay the entire premium cost. For these 100% employee paid programs, we only negotiate a group rate....'
'...TSA management has been embarrassed that some of its employees essentially did not do their jobs for as many as four months before two employee whistle-blowers brought them to management's attention....'
'...Employees covered by FERS on or after October 28, 2009, may repay (or redeposit) any FERS deductions previously refunded to them. They may also redeposit any CSRS deductions previously refunded to them that covered CSRS service that is credited under FERS rules....'
A memorandum dated March 3, 2011, put out by OPM Director, John Berry, identifies several 'Recent Pay-Related Legislative Changes'. The changes relate to Reservist Income Replacement Program and Relationship to Reservist Differential Program, Extension of Authority to Waive Pay Limitations for Certain Federal Civilian Employees Working Overseas, and Rate of Overtime Pay for Department of the Navy Employees Performing Work to Support the Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Forward Deployed in Japan.
The memo reads as follows:
'...The House approved a stop-gap measure Tuesday to keep money flowing to federal government for the next two weeks and avert, a government shutdown congressional negotiators grapple with deep divisions to reach a more permanent solution....'
'...A new national poll delivers some encouraging news for federal employees and their unions: Most Americans oppose weakening the collective bargaining rights of public employees and oppose cutting their pay or benefits to reduce deficits....'
'...One major problem: The federal government's list of critical-need computer security employees has not been updated in over 15 years....'
