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Analysts at the Government Accountability Office voted Wednesday to unionize, marking a first in the watchdog agency's 86-year history.

The analysts backed union representation from the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers by a vote of 897-445. More than 74 percent of the 1,800 eligible analysts at headquarters and field offices participated.

"This is a great and historic day for GAO," said Robert Kershaw, a senior analyst who voted in favor of the union. "We need to restructure the incentives in this agency so that the talents and gifts of each employee are utilized to the maximum."

Comptroller General David M. Walker on Thursday praised the level of employee turnout. "GAO management will bargain in good faith," he said.

GAO's union will be an IFPTE local, and bargaining unit employees will now move forward to elect a council, write a constitution and determine bargaining priorities. The local can then sit down with management and negotiate a first contract.

"The analysts at GAO are experts at creating efficient organizations," said IFPTE President Greg Junemann. "You can bet that their bargaining surveys and their research will be data driven. This local union will be an example for other groups."

The push to unionize is partly a response to sweeping changes in the agency's personnel policies two years ago, resulting in the division of analysts into salary bands, the elimination of cost-of-living increases for many, and the labeling of some analysts as overpaid relative to the market. IFPTE has said that employees have cited what they consider to be a lack of transparency in pay for performance as a major driver of the organizing campaign.

And unlike unions in much of the federal sector, GAO's bargaining unit will be able to negotiate over wages. Most federal employees do not have such rights, largely because most agency managers are not responsible for setting wages. But GAO's personnel changes gave management more discretion in setting pay.

Still, the organizing campaign has evolved to encompass more than just discontent with the new pay system, said Paul Shearon, secretary-treasurer for IFPTE. "The analysts at GAO are very proud of the work they do, and the majority sent a message today that the union is a vehicle to move the agency forward and do its important work better," he said.

Kershaw, who joined GAO in the 1970s, said he hopes having representation will help restore some past benefits, including an annual art show and an employee newspaper. But most important, he said, would be the opportunity for certain employees to work with congressional committees, an authority that was taken away by former Comptroller General Charles Bowsher. Currently, only senior executives are able to meet with congressional staff.

"Earlier in my career, it was OK for staff at all levels of GAO to interact with congressional staff," Kershaw said. "That's the way they understood what the requester wanted, and the quality of work was much better. The staff felt more a part of the team."

On Sunday, Kershaw and a group of GAO analysts launched a Web site for employees to discuss unionization issues. Ownership of the Web site will be transferred to union officials as soon as they are elected, Kershaw said.

Members of the bargaining unit met Thursday to set interim ground rules until a convention is held to adopt a constitution and elect union officers. According to the rules, interim officials must be elected no later than Oct. 19, with an official convention held between Feb. 25 and April 18, 2008.

"We're looking forward to a great working relationship with Comptroller General David Walker," said Lise Levy, a GAO analyst. "The union will help us to make GAO a true model agency."

COMMENTS

• To: Tired of Lies Below is a quote that backs up the accuracy of Gov Exec's article; it is taken from the Notes to the GAO Managing Directors’Meeting of Friday, September 21, 2007: "Dave Walker reported that, on Tuesday, he participated in the band IIA transition seminar. He said that an issue was raised about team policies for participation in meetings with congressional staff that he wanted to discuss at a future meeting. He said band IIA staff were concerned that they did not have opportunities to attend such meetings." GAO Analyst Tired of Posted October 15, 2007 3:15 PM
• Dave Walker only has himself to blame for employees bringing in the union. He listens to no one that does not agree with him. He makes unilateral decisions. The SES senior leaders, who have years of experience at the agency, quit trying to get him to listen years ago. If Walker had made these banding and pay changes and grandfathered everyone he could have avoided the union efforts. Instead he chose to strip some analysts of the standing they had had for years. The Band II split is counter to the spirit of teamwork that has been a hallmark of GAO. GAO analysts are dedicated workers who frequently put in lots of extra hours to get the job done. Walker was getting a bargain. When an outside consultant (who certainly knew what answer Dave Walker wanted) did the Pay study, they said over 25% of GAO's senior analysts were overpaid. Does anyone know the assumptions and methodology of this study? Dave Walker takes pride in denying the cost of living increases. He is on record that he is saving the taxpayers money. But he has had to hire a law firm to handle the fallout from his decisions - how much is that costing the taxpayers? There are many, many lawsuits against the agency. What is that costing GAO in terms of time, money, and lost opportunities? What federal agency is going to listen to what GAO has to say on personnel practices now? My bet is that handling the repercussions of his decisions has cost and will continue to cost a lot more than any savings he thought would accrue by demoting people and denying COLAs. Getting Too Old Posted September 30, 2007 4:28 PM
• GAO Analysts Perform the Basic Work of the Agency and Deserve to Be Full and Equal Partners with GAO Management: 1. GAO Analysts conduct the audits, investigations, research, and analyses of the agency; they summarize the results of their work in GAO’s reports, testimony, consultations, and other services for the Congress, federal agencies, and the American public. Therefore, GAO Analysts are the foundation of GAO’s mission performance and success as an agency. 2. The effectiveness of the GAO — the Watchdog of the Congress — is directly related to the capabilities (unique expertise, talents, gifts, knowledge, experience, skills, and competencies) and the willingness (dedication, commitment, teamwork, collegiality, morale, and esprit de corps) of GAO Analysts to contribute to GAO’s important mission. Therefore all GAO processes, systems, structures, and people should be aligned to nurture, empower, and unify staff capabilities and willingness to contribute to GAO’s mission and to culivate the development of strong personal working relationships with our clients, customers, and each other. 3. GAO works best when Analysts and other employees are treated fairly and with respect by Management, and when the basic human dignity of each individual at GAO, no matter what their rank, is respected and affirmed. 4. GAO — like any human enterprise — thrives when the people in the organization are fully engaged and supported in their work and are encouraged to excel, support each other, and contribute to the organization’s success. 5. To help realize such goals, over the past 18-months GAO Analysts have diligently and courageously self-organized themselves; and on Sept. 19, an overwhelming 67% of GAO's Analysts voted to "band together" in the first Union in GAO's 86 year history. By this decisive action, the 1800 rank and file Analysts of GAO signaled--in the stongest way possible--that they expect and will demand to be full and equal partners with GAO Management, joining with their Management in shaping the current and future direction of their agency, including the terms and conditions of their employment, in order to help make GAO an even more rewarding place to work and contribute to the Congress and the goal of more economical, efficient, and effective government. gaounion.net Posted September 28, 2007 2:22 PM