Ex-TSA Agent spills the beans

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Ex-TSA Agent Dishes on Image Screening Rooms

'...Ever wonder what happens in the airport back room where your body image is being screened by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents?...'

Reference: abcnews.go.com
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Items found by TSA this week

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TSA Week in Review: Speargun, Grenades, and Guns Among Things Discovered at TSA Checkpoints This Week

'...We continue to find inert hand grenades and other weaponry on weekly basis. Please keep in mind that if an item looks like a realistic bomb, grenade, mine, etc., it is prohibited - real or not. When these items are found at a checkpoint or in checked baggage, they can cause significant delays. I know they are cool novelty items, but it is best not to take them on a plane. ...'

Reference: tsa.gov
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Change to 'chained CPI"' will harm Federal Workers

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AFGE: Chained CPI Deal Harmful for Federal Workers, Middle Class

'..."This move marks a shameful abandonment of his campaign promises to protect the middle class and the needy from tax increases or harmful benefit cuts," Cox said. "The currently used measures of inflation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the CPI-U and the CPI-W, already understate inflation for the elderly. This change will cause a large hit to federal pensions, Social Security benefits, Veterans' benefits, and federal benefits to poor children and the disabled. It also will raise taxes substantially on the poor and middle class, while leaving the rich untouched." PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1xhPP) ...'

Reference: www.prnewswire.com
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Federal prisoners escape

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2 inmates escape from federal prison in Chicago

'...Authorities say two men being held on bank robbery charges have escaped from a downtown Chicago federal prison....'

Reference: www.seattlepi.com
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DHS Worst Large Place to Work of Federal Agencies

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Homeland Security Named Worst Big Place to Work of Federal Agencies

'...Workers at the Department of Homeland Security are the least satisfied at work of employees at all the large federal agencies, according to a new government survey. DHS...'

Reference: www.usnews.com
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CIA operative is a star... secretly

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CIA's most famous operative is a secret star

'...Perhaps inevitably, questions are mounting about the CIA employee, her personality and her contacts with the filmmakers. And she can't properly defend herself because she's not allowed to talk to the press....'

Reference: www.cnn.com
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Would sequestration offer buyouts?

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Federal worker Q&A guide to the fiscal cliff: Ten answers on jobs, cuts and more

'...It is common for agencies to offer one or both when forced to downsize, with one motivation being to avoid RIFs or at least lessen the need for them. Buyouts are payments to encourage employees to retire or quit; the typical pre-tax amount is $25,000 but in some cases it has been less....'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
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OPM says Jan. 2013 to see wave of federal employee retirements

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Federal retirement claims fall last month but OPM predicts swell in January

'...Overall, federal employees filed 6,584 retirement claims last month; OPM predicted receiving 7,000. It's the fourth time this year the number of claims OPM received fell below expectations. ...'

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
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TSA moving forward with next gen imaging

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TSA Shuffles Deployment of Whole Body Imagers at US Airports

'...TSA is moving forward in an effort to develop a "next generation" of advanced imaging technology (AIT)....'

Reference: www.hstoday.us
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Did the APWU sign one of the worst negotiated contracts in the history of labor?

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How the Postal Service foundered: Parceling out the responsibility

'...Fred Rolando, the union’s president, has offered negotiating positions that would abandon FEHB, thereby undermining an insurance exchange that actually works well. The APWU signed one of the worst negotiated contracts in the history of labor, giving back years of gains and benefits while endorsing the false narrative being peddled by Donahoe. ...'

Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com
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Shrinking federal buyouts: An offer easily refused

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$hrinking buyouts: An offer you can't refuse?

'... Federal buyouts come in many flavors. If you work for most federal agencies there is the take-it- or-leave it, one-size-fits-all $25,000 buyout. You agree to ...'

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
Tags: Buyouts

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Federal Agency switching to iPhone

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U.S. Federal Agency Switching 17,600 Employees From BlackBerry to iPhone: Report

'...Reuters is reporting that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] agency is ending its contract with BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIMM), as it intends to purchase $2.1 million worth of iPhones for its 17,600 employees. According to ICE...'

Reference: wallstreetpit.com
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Federal workforce to take hit in recovering economy

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A Recovering Economy Won't Include Federal Workers

'...in Detroit, the federal government is expected to cut 4,000 jobs by 2022, with state and local adding fewer than 100 jobs. In Oklahoma City, federal cuts, at just over 3,000 jobs, will also negate a majority of the nearly 4,800 jobs that will be added at the state and local levels....'

Reference: www.usnews.com
Tags: Federal Employment, Federal Jobs, Federal Job Outlook,

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Some understand the need for a strong federal workforce

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As congressional ally retires, federal employee advocates cite progress, challenges

'...A leading advocate in Congress for federal workers, Sen. Daniel Akaka says he's pleased by progress on some of his priorities: Legislation to allow employees to work from home, reforms in hiring and the security clearance process, improvements in matching veterans and people with disabilities to jobs....'

Reference: baltimoresun.com
Tags: Sen. Daniel Akaka

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Federal employee pay raises? The bigger worry may be health care

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Forget the Pay Freeze: Start Worrying About Health Care Costs

'... Buried in the news over the extended federal pay freeze, the impending fiscal cliff and the umpteenth continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown is this fact: Many military retirees will be paying a little more for their health care as of Oct. 1. Day 1 of fiscal 2013 means that some TRICARE Prime beneficiaries now will have to pay $...'

Reference: www.govexec.com
Tags: Federal pay raise 2013, Health care costs,

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Body of US Ambassador to Libya Returned

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Bodies of 4 Americans killed in Libya returned to the U.S.

'...The bodies of U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans killed in an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi were returned to the United States on Friday...'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
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CFC kicks off for 2012 (September 1st to December 15th)

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2012 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

'...CFC is the world's largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 200 CFC campaigns throughout the country and internationally to help to raise millions of dollars each year. Pledges made by Federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season (September 1st to December 15th) support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world. The Director of OPM has designated responsibility for day-to-day management of the CFC to its CFC Operations office. ...'

Reference: www.opm.gov/cfc/
Tags: CFC 2012

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EPA's Margo Oge, director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Transportation and Air Quality stepping down

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Key EPA auto regulator Margo Oge stepping down

'...Margo Oge, director of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Transportation and Air Quality, told staff Tuesday she will be leaving the agency at the end of the month after more than 30 years....'

Reference: www.detroitnews.com
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2013 Federal Employee Pay Raise Update

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President extends federal pay freeze

'...In a letter to House and Senate leaders, the president reiterated his support for ending the pay freeze with a 0.5 percent raise, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013, that he proposed early this year....'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: 2013 Federal Pay Raise, 2013 pay raise,

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Federal employee legislation update

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Congress moves on federal employee bills

'...Several pieces of legislation of importance to federal employees crossed the congressional finish line late last week while some others reached the halfway mark, including one calling for the firing of those far behind in paying their federal taxes....'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Federal employee legislation

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Older people forced to early Social Security due to lack of employment opportunities

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Unemployed Forced to Early Social Security

'...Just a few miles from the gated estates of corporate chieftains and Hollywood stars, Ms. Keany lives in a tiny mobile home, barely getting by on little more than $1,082 a month from Social Security....'

Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com
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Changes to federal employee appeals policies coming

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Overhaul of federal employee appeals policies planned

'...The agency that hears challenges to disciplinary actions, whistle-blower retaliation complaints and appeals of many other job decisions affecting federal employees is planning to overhaul many of its policies. Proposed rules that the Merit Systems Protection Board published Thursday in the Federal Register would...'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
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Little more than half of all Senior Executive Service members are satisfied with their pay

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Fewer senior executives are satisfied with their pay, OPM finds

'...A little more than half of all Senior Executive Service members are satisfied with their pay levels, a significant drop from 2008 numbers, according to the Office of Personnel Management’s latest SES survey....'

Reference: www.govexec.com
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TSP hit by sophisticated cyber attack - personal information stolen

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Hackers hit Thrift Savings Plan

'...A cyber attack has potentially stolen the personal information of as many as 123,000 government employee Thrift Savings Plan participants, according to Reston-based Serco Inc., which supports the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board....'

Reference: www.bizjournals.com
Tags: TSP, Cyber attack,

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Telecommuting progressing in federal workforce

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Movement to telework gaining a foothold in federal agencies

'...Federal agencies are leading the way in telecommuting, according to the Alexandria, Va.-based Telework Exchange’s (TE) report...'

Reference: govpro.com
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Social Security Benefits & Taxes

'...after years of paying income taxes on your “contributions” you are ready to retire and collect the benefits—only to find out that they may be taxable! It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Well, here’s how...'

Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com
Tags: income taxes, social security benefits

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House approves pay cut for Federal Employees ...at least that's what it amounts to

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House action amounts to federal pay cut

'...pay an additional 5 percent of salary for retirement benefits, with no increase in those benefits in new bill. “After this goes into effect, they will in fact not have as much take-home as they did the day before,” Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) acknowledged on the House floor....'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif),

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TSA is on the job!

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TSA Week in Review: Black Powder, Grenades, and Claymore Mines

'...Items Concealed in VCR: A checked bag at Newark (EWR) appeared to contain a VCR that had been tampered with. After TSA’s Explosive Detection Team cleared the bag to be searched, it was determined that the contents inside of the unit was a VHS tape along with 23 smartphones each individually wrapped in aluminum foil and taped to the unit. ...'

Reference: tsa.gov
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USPS Buy-out incentives

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Congress to make key vote on post office closures Tuesday

'...money toward incentives for about 100,000 employees to retire in the near future. Some interested parties blame much of the Postal Service’s financial problems on a law that has required the USPS to pay for several decades worth of future retirement benefits over the course of a few years....'

Reference: www.mitchellrepublic.com
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Threatening a federal shutdown, "...There's never been anything like this," Bixby said

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House approves Republican deficit-cutting plan

'...threatening a federal shutdown. And a payroll tax cut, extra unemployment benefits and a host of temporary tax breaks for businesses will all be about to expire. "You've got a budget just about to blow up. There's never been anything like this," Bixby said ...'

Reference: www.google.com
Tags: Federal Government Shutdown,

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Mail processing facilities closures could be detrimental to broad segments of the country

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Postal union blasts closings plan in new ads

'...the impending closure of 223 mail-processing facilities and post offices could be detrimental to broad segments of the country, including small-businesses owners and people who rely on mail deliveries of medication. ...'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Tags: Mail processing facilities closures, AMP,

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NASA hit by cyberattacks called "advanced persistent threats"

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Hackers Seize Control of NASA Computers

'...NASA reported that it was the target of 47 sophisticated cyberattacks - the report calls them "advanced persistent threats" - in 2011. Thirteen of those 47 attacks successfully compromised NASA computers....'

Reference: www.the33tv.com
Tags: advanced persistent threats, NASA,

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Federal employees to pay more for retirement in GOP plan

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Republicans look to require federal workers to pay more for retirement

'...the bill is a GOP attack on federal workers, and said Congress needs to balance any proposed cuts to the government...'

Reference: thehill.com
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Federal Retirement Cuts Coming Soon?

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GOP proposes changing federal worker pensions

'...Federal employees would pay more toward their pensions and new employees would receive less generous retirement benefits under a House Republican plan to pay for highway programs....'

Reference: www.wtop.com
Tags: Federal Retirement,

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Republicans successful in limiting FAA unionization, Dems give in

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FAA Deal on Capitol Hill: Labor Language Dropped

'...In exchange for Republicans dropping the NMB rule recission, Democrats have agreed to include a provision that would raise the threshold for rail and aviation workers expressing interest in forming a union from 35 percent to 50 percent. This would mark the first time that an FAA reauthorization included any NMB changes, which is likely to make organized labor uncomfortable....'

Reference: nationaljournal.com
Tags: anti-union, union busting,

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Radiation exposure of 16 workers at a nuclear research lab

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Federal panel faults Idaho lab for radiation exposure mishap

'...The radiation exposure of 16 workers at a nuclear research lab in I, daho stemmed from a failure to properly assess the risks posed by the handling of decades-old plutonium fuel cells, federal investigators concluded on Wednesday....'

Reference: www.reuters.com
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2013 Federal Worker Pay Raise

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White House calls for modest 0.5% pay raise for federal civilian workers

'...After a two-year freeze in federal workers’ salaries, President Obama will propose a 0.5 percent pay increase for civilian employees as part of his 2013...'

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
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Federal employee starting pay rises

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Starting Pay for Federal Workers Rises

'...The rising salaries make the federal government a desirable place to work, and the analysis also found that workers are less likely to leave...'

Reference: www.newser.com
Tags: Federal employee starting pay

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Civilian Service Recognition Act

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H.R.2061

'...To authorize the presentation of a United States flag on behalf of Federal civilian employees who die of injuries in connection with their employment....'

Reference: thomas.loc.gov
Tags: Civilian Service Recognition Act

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Federal Employee reduction in force, more base closings and consolidations

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Experts: DoD could slash 150K jobs

'...Even with early-out incentives, Williams expected that a "sizable" reduction in force (RIF) also would be needed. "This is going to be a mess...'

Reference: www.federaltimes.com
Tags: reduction in force, federal job cuts, early-out incentives,

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