House Approves Language Permitting
All DHS Employees to Voluntarily Wear Protective Masks
NTEU applauded House of Representatives approval of language providing
these workers with the right to voluntarily wear protective masks
while performing their duties.
NTEU
President Colleen M. Kelley has been leading the effort for that
right since the outbreak more than two months ago of a virulent
strain of swine flu. The language is contained in a manager’s
amendment to H.R. 2892, the fiscal 2010 Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) Appropriations bill, and would extend the right throughout
DHS.
“I am very pleased to see the House ensure that DHS employees
who interact with the public would be free from negative personnel
actions for using certain protective equipment, such as surgical
masks, N95 respirators, gloves and hand sanitizers,” said
President Kelley. The union has presented to both the House and
Senate employee affidavits testifying to demands from supervisors
that they not wear protective masks, and making those wearing such
equipment remove it.
In a letter
to Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Rules Committee,
President Kelley urged support for language giving all DHS employees
the right to voluntarily wear masks. More
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 NTEU
and CBP have signed articles on a bid and rotation procedure
and alternative work schedules (AWS) that will be implemented
even as the parties continue bargaining over the rest
of the contract.
This is a tremendous gain for CBP employees, and one
that NTEU worked very hard to secure in the months,
and even years, leading up to bargaining. Your honest
responses to the employee survey contributed to the
victory. In congressional testimony and during meetings
with lawmakers and agency leaders, I repeatedly emphasized
the connection between the lack of a negotiated bid
and rotation system and CBP's dismal ratings in employee
surveys. This left management with no choice but to
acknowledge that changes needed to be made.
The new agreement, which covers CBP Officers and Agriculture
Specialists, will bring a fair, transparent and consistent
bid and rotation system to employees. Experienced employees
will be recognized for their years of service. NTEU
will have a seat at the table when management decides
who gets what position, and employees who believe they
have been unfairly passed over will have access to an
expedited grievance procedure. More
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MORE NEWS
NTEU Takes Swine Flu Issue to FACOSH; Working Group Created
The continued advocacy of NTEU in favor of the right of frontline
DHS employees to voluntarily wear protective masks while performing
their duties has resulted in a key federal advisory board establishing
a working group to study how to best protect federal employees against
swine flu.
The working group was established in response to a resolution proposed
by NTEU at a meeting of the Federal Advisory Council on Occupational
Safety and Health (FACOSH), an advisory body created to monitor
health and safety issues affecting federal workers.
“Information to employees about what they are allowed to
do to protect against possible infection has been contradictory
and vague,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. “FACOSH
should recommend that federal employees be allowed to voluntarily
use protective masks to protect their health in situations such
as the recent swine flu outbreak.” More
NTEU Welcomes Senate Bill on Whistleblower
Rights
NTEU praised new Senate legislation to
enhance whistleblower protections, noting the critical importance
to our nation’s security of extending those rights to Transportation
Security Administration (TSA) employees.
In a statement
submitted as the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management convened a hearing
on whistleblower legislation, NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley praised
subcommittee Chairman Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) for introducing
S. 372, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2009, and
extending statutory whistleblower rights to Transportation Security
Officers (TSOs).
NTEU also asked the committee to consider adding language that would
allow federal employees full court access, including the right to
jury trials, as a way to further strengthen current laws. More