HOLD THE
LINE
NFFE-FSC circular logo with a raised first.
From the Desk of Genny Kotyk
Forest Service Council President (acting)
Dear NFFE Bargaining Unit Employees,
The last few weeks have been a challenging time for all of us. Whether
or not a bargaining unit employee, and whether or not directly impacted by the USDA
proposed changes to the US Forest Service, we are all collectively affected by this
announcement.
The NFFE Forest Service Council and union leaders across the country have been hard
at work collaborating with our NFFE National Staff and affiliated IAM union resources,
along with other allies in developing strategies for how to respond to the proposed
changes.
With the help of our IAM Strategic Resources we have developed an Impact &
Priorities Survey_- Initial Forest Service Reorganization Assessment for you to
share with us what you are experiencing, what impacts you are expecting, and which
issues matter most to you at this early stage of negotiations over the proposed
reorganization plan. You may receive additional surveys as needs emerge for more
detailed information. Your responses help the Union identify priority bargaining topics
and ensure we focus on the real impacts facing employees. Your
participation is voluntary, and honest feedback is encouraged.
Please reach out to your local steward if you didn't
recieve the email. Please fill out the survey at your earliest
convenience, during work hours, and feel free to do so from
a personal device if you would prefer.
@wwww.NFFE-FSC.org
Hold the line, nffe-fsc raised first logo.
From the Desk of Genny Kotyk
Forest Service Council President (acting),
Background about the negotiations and the bargaining process;
On March 31, the NFFE Forest Service Council (FSC) received the Article
11 Bargaining Notice from the Agency within an hour of the announcement nationally.
As stated in our Master Agreement, the FSC has 28 days to respond. Management
provided some initial proposals and basic information. The FSC is developing a list of
questions that will be formulated into an official Union Information Request along
with developing our bargaining interests.
Our Negotiations Team will include our NFFE Legal Counsel and union leaders that
represent the level of employees we are bargaining for at each stage or Phase of
Negotiations.
Phase 1 involves the National Capital Region's bargaining unit employees (BUEs), both
those proposed to remain in DC and proposed to relocate.
Later, we will begin Phase 2 of Negotiations that involves
the WO detached, Regional Office, and Research and
Development BUEs.
@www.NFFE-FSC.org
Hold the line, nffe-fsc raised fist logo
From the Desk of Genny Kotyk
Forest Service Council President (acting)
I know there is
also a high level of interest in our Return to Office
Arbitration, so here is the latest update: On March 6, NFFE and the
Agency had an Arbitration hearing on the Return to Office issue, unilaterally
eliminating all telework agreements. The parties have agreed to submit closing briefs
to the arbitrator by April 22"d . The arbitrator then has 30 days to reply with their
decision.
We have positive expectations due to other federal employee unions having won
arbitrations on this issue in recent months, but there are no guarantees in the
outcome.
Thank you for the flood of support in new members to help protect our civil service
and negotiated rights under our Master Agreement.
Supporting your union is more important now than ever before.
• If interested in becoming a member please fill out an 1187 form and send it to
your Local Union Representative.
@www.NFFE-FSC.org
Hold the line raised first nffe-fsc logo
From the Desk of Genny Kotyk
Forest Service Council President (acting)
NFFE-IAM MEMBER BENEFITS
As a member of the National Federation of Federal Employees,
IAMAW, you have access to some of the best consumer, financial and educational
benefits the labor community has to offer. Along with the benefits bargained on your
behalf by NFFE-IAM representatives in the workplace, you are also offered discounts
on various consumer products and services, as well as educational opportunities
including union based training through reduced cost college degrees.
nffe.org/benefits
unionplus.org
Most importantly please take care of yourselves, your family and each other
during these difficult times. Please do not make any major life altering decisions in
response to the Reorganization announcement until more information is made clear
and negotiations have been completed. Last year we lost many employees making
decisions out of fear and misinformation. Please do not further that trend.
@www.NFFE-FSC.org
The impact and priority survey was sent today to all bargianing unit employees via your work email by Genny. Please take the time to fill it out- it can be done on the clock or forward it to yourself and do it from your personal device. 🧵
#ourworkmatters #bettertogether #nffestrong #saveOurForests
