5/18/07
We Really are still here
Noticed something (somebody) missing around the office lately? Like your friendly local Steward, maybe? It's because many of us are at the NTEU National Spring Training sessions, held annually in various cities around the US. The spring training is designed to bring all the Chapter Leaders from around the country together to get up to speed on the latest info, what's happening in DC and ways we can improve our service to our members. The sessions provide a valuable way for those of us outside the Beltway to give feedback and ideas to our national staff, including National President Colleen Kelley and National Executive VP Frank Ferris. We get a chance to tell them what you tell us, and get the inside scoop on things we are doing to make your worklife easier. If you need a Steward and can't find your usual contact, please stop by the Chapter 32 office on 3N in Dominion, or call us at 303-446-1700. We're ready to help YOU!
5/15/07
Pay Raise
What's Good for the Military...Washington Post, May 2, 2007The 2008 pay raise appears to be taking shape.
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The House Armed Services Committee included a 3.5 percent raise for the military in the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill, and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), the House majority leader, announced he will urge other House leaders to provide an equal increase for civil service employees.The House approved the Homeland Security bill on a 296 to 126 vote Wednesday. The bill includes a provision that would grant law-enforcement status for purposes of determining retirement benefits to certain Customs and Border Protection officers. The administration has objected, citing the cost of providing more attractive retirement benefits.
Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said the veto threat "shows that this administration is willing to put its animosity toward fair treatment for workers over the interest of national security."
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The House Armed Services Committee included a 3.5 percent raise for the military in the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill, and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), the House majority leader, announced he will urge other House leaders to provide an equal increase for civil service employees.The House approved the Homeland Security bill on a 296 to 126 vote Wednesday. The bill includes a provision that would grant law-enforcement status for purposes of determining retirement benefits to certain Customs and Border Protection officers. The administration has objected, citing the cost of providing more attractive retirement benefits.
Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said the veto threat "shows that this administration is willing to put its animosity toward fair treatment for workers over the interest of national security."
5/13/07
NEW! on nteu.org
NTEU recently unveiled new features on NTEU.org, including pages on contracting out, NTEU media hits, the proposed FDA lab closings and restructuring, and NTEU members and their families serving in the military. All of these pages are available to the public and can be accessed by visiting the NTEU homepage at www.NTEU.org. We encourage you to promote these pages among NTEU members and nonmembers alike, and to visit the NTEU homepage often.
Survey Nessage from Colleen Kelley, National President
May 11, 2007
A Message from the NTEU National President On the 2007 IRS Survey:
After numerous conversations with NTEU leaders and IRS employees, I am writing to express some thoughts about the IRS survey process. I recently received an e-mail from an NTEU leader that said he had a good boss at the IRS and wanted to let the agency know that. He intended to do so by taking the survey.
I am sharing this because it occurred to me that many of you may feel the same way or some of you may feel the opposite way about your manager. In both cases, it is a good idea to take the survey and let the IRS know. Question 5 on the survey asks if you have “trust and confidence” in your supervisor, while Question 6 asks you to rate “how good a job” your supervisor is doing.
By the same token, if you feel that the issues are with senior leadership, training, resources or performance appraisals. There are questions that address those issues as well. And, if your particular question is not addressed, there is an opportunity to write in your views.
I thought long and hard about asking you to take the survey this year. Boycotting the survey was a way for each of you individually to express your anger and frustration about how the IRS has been treating employees. I recognize that there is a lot of frustration and anger over the last several years about how employees have been treated; whether you have the tools, resources and support to do your jobs; and whether the agency views its workforce as the asset it is or would rather contract out your jobs to private companies. All of those feelings are justified. I ask that you focus this justified anger at the IRS, vocalize it and document it by answering the survey with candid answers.
I believe we made our point by boycotting the survey over the last two years. Now I think it is time to try a new approach.
In our struggle to improve working conditions at the IRS, there is a chance that these survey results can make a difference. I do not expect miracles, but I do see opportunities for NTEU to use this information to make positive changes for IRS employees. When I receive the survey results, I will look carefully at your responses. I will keep you informed about this process at every step, as will your chapter leaders. Thank you as always for your support for NTEU. Together, we will continue to make a difference.
A Message from the NTEU National President On the 2007 IRS Survey:
After numerous conversations with NTEU leaders and IRS employees, I am writing to express some thoughts about the IRS survey process. I recently received an e-mail from an NTEU leader that said he had a good boss at the IRS and wanted to let the agency know that. He intended to do so by taking the survey.
I am sharing this because it occurred to me that many of you may feel the same way or some of you may feel the opposite way about your manager. In both cases, it is a good idea to take the survey and let the IRS know. Question 5 on the survey asks if you have “trust and confidence” in your supervisor, while Question 6 asks you to rate “how good a job” your supervisor is doing.
By the same token, if you feel that the issues are with senior leadership, training, resources or performance appraisals. There are questions that address those issues as well. And, if your particular question is not addressed, there is an opportunity to write in your views.
I thought long and hard about asking you to take the survey this year. Boycotting the survey was a way for each of you individually to express your anger and frustration about how the IRS has been treating employees. I recognize that there is a lot of frustration and anger over the last several years about how employees have been treated; whether you have the tools, resources and support to do your jobs; and whether the agency views its workforce as the asset it is or would rather contract out your jobs to private companies. All of those feelings are justified. I ask that you focus this justified anger at the IRS, vocalize it and document it by answering the survey with candid answers.
I believe we made our point by boycotting the survey over the last two years. Now I think it is time to try a new approach.
In our struggle to improve working conditions at the IRS, there is a chance that these survey results can make a difference. I do not expect miracles, but I do see opportunities for NTEU to use this information to make positive changes for IRS employees. When I receive the survey results, I will look carefully at your responses. I will keep you informed about this process at every step, as will your chapter leaders. Thank you as always for your support for NTEU. Together, we will continue to make a difference.
5/8/07
New Member Benefit - Discount Rockies Tickets
Rockies Discount Ticket Vouchers Now Available!Chapter 032 is pleased to announce a new local benefit available for NTEU members. Discount ticket vouchers for the Colorado Rockies are now available to be purchased from the Chapter office for only $12.00 each!
These ticket vouchers can then be exchanged for a game ticket in the Outfield box, Pavilion (left field), or Upper Reserved Infield seating areas. These vouchers may be exchanged by our members for tickets to any 'value' or 'premium' game. The tickets you receive in exchange have a regular price of $18-$36 depending on ticket location and game. (Exclusions would be the Cubs, Cardinals, and Yankees series as well as the Fireworks games July 3rd and 4th.)
The Outfield Box seats are located in sections 110-117 and 144-150.
The Pavilion seats are sections 151-160.
The Upper Infield Reserved are in sections 321-340
Stadium map: http://ev9.evenue.net/evenue/linkID=rockies-st/images/maps/map-CF2006.gif
We received some vouchers from the Rockies last week, but we discovered there was a problem with how the Rockies had them encoded. They have re-programmed some of their ticketing software and also reprinted the vouchers with proper coding. The Rockies regret the inconvenience and delay, but it was important to correct the error to ensure the integrity of the discount offer.
Each voucher has a unique certificate code listed on it. If your Rockies ticket representative has difficulty completing the transaction, please remind them each certificate number much be entered individually if you are exchanging more than one voucher.
These vouchers can be exchanged at the Coors Field box office or at the Rockies Dug Out stores.
Anyone who wants to take advantage of this fantastic benefit can contact the chapter office at 303-446-1700 or mailto:ntnteu032@aol.com. You can also stop by the chapter office on the third floor of Dominion Plaza North Tower. If you are at an outlying POD, please make your check or money order out to NTEU, Chapter 32. Advise the chapter of your interest and that your order is being sent, by sending an email to nteu032@aol.com. Then, Mail your remittance to NTEU, Chapter 32/Rockies, PO Box 1617, Denver, CO 80201.See you and your family at Coors Field!
5/7/07
Address Changed?
It is important to note that NTEU is not informed by an agency when a member submits a change of address to that agency. Unless the member or the chapter contacts NTEU or uses the Personal Contact Information area of www.NTEU.org, all mail from NTEU will continue to be addressed to the “old” address. Please help us keep up to date on your address and other information, INCLUDING your home e-mail. Go to the NTEU national web site to make your changes, or contact the Chapter 32 office. Haven't registered at nteu.org yet? Click on the national website and follow the links to register NOW!!
5/4/07
Rockies Tix Update
From David Larkin (our discount Wizard)
After receiving the vouchers for the Rockies, I attempted to exchange a voucher yesterday. We discovered there was a problem with how the Rockies had them set up. They need to re-program some of their ticketing software and also reprint the vouchers with proper coding. They will not have replacements available until Tuesday May 8th or Wednesday May 9th. I will put out an email as soon as we receive them.
The Rockies apologize for any inconvenience.
After receiving the vouchers for the Rockies, I attempted to exchange a voucher yesterday. We discovered there was a problem with how the Rockies had them set up. They need to re-program some of their ticketing software and also reprint the vouchers with proper coding. They will not have replacements available until Tuesday May 8th or Wednesday May 9th. I will put out an email as soon as we receive them.
The Rockies apologize for any inconvenience.
5/2/07
20080Pay Raise Advances - Get Those Letters Moving!
Statement of NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley On
House Subcommittee Approval of 3.5 Percent Military Pay Raise
NTEU welcomes approval today by a House Armed Services subcommittee in its markup of the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization bill of a 3.5 percent pay raise for members of the military. This is one-half of one percent higher than the raise proposed by the administration for 2008, and reflects both the need to address the military pay gap and the continuing contributions to our nation by those in the military and their family members. The same is true for federal civilian workers, whose undeniable day-to-day contributions in serving the public warrant a similar raise. NTEU strongly supports a minimum 3.5 percent raise in 2008 for the federal civilian workforce and will continue our work in securing bipartisan congressional support for this increase for civilian and military employees.
Members, please write your Congressional Representatives and urge them to support this measure. You can go to CapWiz at www.nteu.org and join NTEU in making a difference for ALL Federal employees
House Subcommittee Approval of 3.5 Percent Military Pay Raise
NTEU welcomes approval today by a House Armed Services subcommittee in its markup of the fiscal 2008 Defense Authorization bill of a 3.5 percent pay raise for members of the military. This is one-half of one percent higher than the raise proposed by the administration for 2008, and reflects both the need to address the military pay gap and the continuing contributions to our nation by those in the military and their family members. The same is true for federal civilian workers, whose undeniable day-to-day contributions in serving the public warrant a similar raise. NTEU strongly supports a minimum 3.5 percent raise in 2008 for the federal civilian workforce and will continue our work in securing bipartisan congressional support for this increase for civilian and military employees.
Members, please write your Congressional Representatives and urge them to support this measure. You can go to CapWiz at www.nteu.org and join NTEU in making a difference for ALL Federal employees
5/1/07
Opposition to Private Collection
From NTEU National:
Congressional Support Continues to Build
For Halting IRS Private Tax Debt Collection
Washington D.C.—Congressional support continues to grow for legislation in both the House and Senate that would put an end to a misguided program by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of turning over personal and sensitive taxpayer information to private debt collectors.
In the House, more than 100 lawmakers have signed on to H.R. 695, introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), which would revoke the IRS’s authority to use private debt collectors. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate, where late last week the sponsors of S. 335 sent a letter to their Senate colleagues outlining a number of issues with the IRS program and seeking their support in ending it.
In the letter, Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) detailed the decision by the IRS to drop the contract, for unexplained reasons, of one of the private debt collection companies it had hired for the program. The company was originally chosen by the agency “despite repeated warnings about the firm’s checkered past,” the senators wrote.
In calling for additional co-sponsors for their pending legislation, S. 335, which would effectively end the program, Senators Dorgan and Murray also pointed out that the IRS “has confirmed that dozens of complaints have already been lodged by taxpayers against the private debt collectors—including unauthorized disclosures, inappropriate questioning and a violation of the federal debt collection laws.” None of these problems are surprising,” they wrote, “and all could easily have been avoided by simply using trained, professional IRS employees.”
That supports the long-held position of President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), who has been leading the fight against the ill-advised IRS privatization program. “The more that members of Congress focus on the details of this program,” she said, “the more support builds for stopping it.”
The Dorgan-Murray letter noted the IRS previously tried such a program more than a decade ago, with disastrous results. They wrote that “proponents of the IRS’s use of private debt collectors argued that the initial phase of this program would give the IRS and policymakers an opportunity to see if the program would avoid the problems of the past. The evidence is in, and the answer is a resounding no!”
Additional congressional support for ending the private tax debt collection program comes from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) In March, he announced that the committee was undertaking an investigation into the IRS program. In a letter to IRS Commissioner Mark Everson, Rep. Rangel said that “we understand that there have been numerous complaints from taxpayers about the tactics used by contract employees and instances of violations of law, including violations of the taxpayer privacy laws.”
Noting that he understands the IRS plans to enter into three to five additional contracts with private debt collectors later this year, Rep. Rangel told the commissioner of his intent to pass legislation to repeal or significantly modify agency authority for the program. “I strongly urge that you not proceed with the process of awarding new private tax collection contracts this year,” he wrote.
This call was echoed by President Kelley. “In light of the continuing controversy swirling around this program, the rational course for the IRS to take is to halt this program immediately,” she said. “It is time to return the work of the IRS to the professional and dedicated IRS workforce and provide the agency with the resources its needs to collect outstanding tax debts.”
Please write to your Congressional Representative today to voice your support for opposition to private debt collection! go to the CapWiz link on this site!
Congressional Support Continues to Build
For Halting IRS Private Tax Debt Collection
Washington D.C.—Congressional support continues to grow for legislation in both the House and Senate that would put an end to a misguided program by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of turning over personal and sensitive taxpayer information to private debt collectors.
In the House, more than 100 lawmakers have signed on to H.R. 695, introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), which would revoke the IRS’s authority to use private debt collectors. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate, where late last week the sponsors of S. 335 sent a letter to their Senate colleagues outlining a number of issues with the IRS program and seeking their support in ending it.
In the letter, Senators Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) detailed the decision by the IRS to drop the contract, for unexplained reasons, of one of the private debt collection companies it had hired for the program. The company was originally chosen by the agency “despite repeated warnings about the firm’s checkered past,” the senators wrote.
In calling for additional co-sponsors for their pending legislation, S. 335, which would effectively end the program, Senators Dorgan and Murray also pointed out that the IRS “has confirmed that dozens of complaints have already been lodged by taxpayers against the private debt collectors—including unauthorized disclosures, inappropriate questioning and a violation of the federal debt collection laws.” None of these problems are surprising,” they wrote, “and all could easily have been avoided by simply using trained, professional IRS employees.”
That supports the long-held position of President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), who has been leading the fight against the ill-advised IRS privatization program. “The more that members of Congress focus on the details of this program,” she said, “the more support builds for stopping it.”
The Dorgan-Murray letter noted the IRS previously tried such a program more than a decade ago, with disastrous results. They wrote that “proponents of the IRS’s use of private debt collectors argued that the initial phase of this program would give the IRS and policymakers an opportunity to see if the program would avoid the problems of the past. The evidence is in, and the answer is a resounding no!”
Additional congressional support for ending the private tax debt collection program comes from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) In March, he announced that the committee was undertaking an investigation into the IRS program. In a letter to IRS Commissioner Mark Everson, Rep. Rangel said that “we understand that there have been numerous complaints from taxpayers about the tactics used by contract employees and instances of violations of law, including violations of the taxpayer privacy laws.”
Noting that he understands the IRS plans to enter into three to five additional contracts with private debt collectors later this year, Rep. Rangel told the commissioner of his intent to pass legislation to repeal or significantly modify agency authority for the program. “I strongly urge that you not proceed with the process of awarding new private tax collection contracts this year,” he wrote.
This call was echoed by President Kelley. “In light of the continuing controversy swirling around this program, the rational course for the IRS to take is to halt this program immediately,” she said. “It is time to return the work of the IRS to the professional and dedicated IRS workforce and provide the agency with the resources its needs to collect outstanding tax debts.”
Please write to your Congressional Representative today to voice your support for opposition to private debt collection! go to the CapWiz link on this site!
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