Pay & Benefits

House Panel Approves 3.1% Pay Raise for Feds in 2020

The bill advanced by the House Appropriations Committee to the House floor Tuesday also would increase funding for a number of civilian agencies.

Workforce

A Growing Number of Feds Think They've Seen Favoritism, Other Prohibited Personnel Practices

Uptick could be at least partially a result of increased awareness, Merit Systems Protection Board concludes.

Workforce

Pentagon Orders Delay in IT Employee Transfers Following Union Protest

The Defense Department no longer plans to move staff from support agencies to the Defense Information Services Agency before the end of September, officials said.

Workforce

FLRA Chair Justifies High Overturn Rate By Saying Arbitrators Are ‘Exceeding Authority’

A study by an arbitrator found that Colleen Duffy Kiko’s FLRA has set overturned awards roughly three times as often as the FLRA during the Obama and George W. Bush administrations.

Management

Labor Authority Chairwoman Defends Decisions to Decertify Union, Close Regional Offices

Democratic lawmakers blasted decisions that overturned decades of agency precedent, and suggested Federal Labor Relations Authority Chairwoman Colleen Duffy Kiko was untruthful in her testimony.

Pay & Benefits

House Panel Advances Spending Bill With 3.1% Pay Raise for Feds

The measure also would block the Trump administration’s plan to merge the Office of Personnel Management with the General Services Administration.

Management

Impasses Panel Guts Telework, Official Time for Employees at Social Security Administration

Although the Federal Service Impasses Panel frequently sided with management, it knocked down multiple efforts to reduce the scope of grievance procedures.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Funds End May Mostly in the Red

Only two funds within the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program posted gains last month.

Oversight

GSA Failed to Remove Toxic Materials From Federal Facility Going Back Decades, Union Says

Dozens of studies have shown hazardous materials at the former munitions plant turned federal office building and child care center. Union alleges whistleblower retaliation.

Management

Union, Lawmakers Vow Fight to Stop Forest Service Layoffs

Capitol Hill reportedly was caught off guard by the Labor and Agriculture department announcement that officials planned to shutter Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers.

Management

OPM Abandons Proposal that Federal Job Applicants Disclose Pre-Trial Diversion Participation

Although federal officials say the plan was well intentioned, advocates decried the initiative as counter to ongoing criminal justice reform efforts.

Pay & Benefits

TSA Announces Pass-Fail Performance Management System for Screeners

Officials say the new process will cut down on paperwork and continue to reward strong performers.

Management

Union Accuses Pentagon of Ducking Bargaining Rules With Transfers of IT Employees

IT workers at the Defense Contract Management Agency are not being given the opportunity to accept or decline being moved to the Defense Information Services Agency, labor officials said.

Management

OPM-GSA Merger Could Cause Regulatory Bottleneck, Legal Challenges

Even if Congress were to pass the Trump administration’s proposal to reorganize OPM, it could still take years before policymakers could tackle other workforce issues.

Management

Senators Introduce Bill to Block USDA Research Agency Moves

The measure mirrors language in the House Appropriations Committee’s fiscal 2020 funding bill for the department, and Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., has placed a hold on a key nominee.

Management

OPM-GSA Merger Proposal Falls Flat With House Oversight Panel

Lawmakers and witnesses say the plan isn't well thought-out and risks eroding merit system protections.