Management

Warren, Sanders Warn Defense Chief Against Using New Collective Bargaining Authority

Democratic senators demand that Esper “commit, in writing,” not to act on his new authority to abolish unionization at the Pentagon.

Pay & Benefits

TSP Returns Plummet Amid Coronavirus Worries

Nearly all of the offerings in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program took a dive last month, mirroring volatility across the stock market.

Workforce

President of Largest Federal Employee Union Resigns Amid Investigation

J. David Cox was accused last year of a pattern of behavior including sexual harassment and unwanted advances toward union employees. Cox reportedly resigned after additional charges were levied against him earlier this month.

Management

Senators From Both Political Parties Urge Trump to 'Reconsider' Defense Union Memo

Lawmakers say the president’s January decision to give Defense Secretary Mark Esper blanket authority to abolish collective bargaining runs counter to congressional intent.

Management

Defense Chief Says He Didn’t Ask for Union Memo, Declines to Say How He Will Use New Power

Esper told lawmakers he would wait for staff recommendations before using the newly granted authority to outlaw collective bargaining among Pentagon civilian workers.

Management

OPM Announces Adjustments to Annual Time-to-Hire Metrics

Moving forward, agencies will be expected to count all employees hired and provide additional details about the length of the hiring process.

Management

Democratic Lawmakers Warn Proposed Social Security Rule Could Be Illegal

Leaders of several congressional committees call on the Social Security Administration to abandon a proposed rule that would allow appeals officers to hear lower-level disability cases.

Pay & Benefits

Military Family Members and Retirees Could Lose Medical Clinic Access under Pentagon Plan

The Defense Department this week published a plan to downsize dozens of military treatment facilities and make many accessible only to active duty troops.

Management

Trump Administration Publishes Memo That Could End Defense Unions

More than three weeks after President Trump signed a memo authorizing Defense Secretary Mark Esper to effectively outlaw collective bargaining at the Defense Department, the White House has posted the document to the Federal Register.

Management

Union Sues to Block a Plan That Would Make It Easier for Feds to Quit Paying Dues

Labor authority last week signaled that it will move ahead on the plan, although critics say the agency's legal justification doesn’t add up.

Management

Labor Authority Moves Forward With Plan to Make It Easier for Feds to Cancel Union Dues

Lone Democrat on the labor-management relations board accuses his colleagues of using recent Supreme Court precedent as a pretext to enable union busting.

Pay & Benefits

TSP to Increase Auto Enrollment to 5% Later This Year

Proposed regulations would increase the rate at which federal employees automatically contribute to their Thrift Savings Plan accounts from 3% to 5% beginning in October.

Pay & Benefits

OPM, Lawmakers Propose Fixes to New Paid Parental Leave Law

The effort to ensure all federal employees have access to up to 12 weeks of paid time off following the birth, adoption or foster placement of a child now has bipartisan support.

Management

Civil Rights Groups Join Fight Against EEOC Official Time Proposal

A pair of nonprofit groups said plan to make the right to official time for union representatives subject to collective bargaining agreements lacks "adequate justification" and will harm federal workers.

Pay & Benefits

White House Revives Controversial Retirement Cut Proposals

The Trump administration’s fiscal 2021 budget proposal would require federal workers to contribute more to their retirement benefit programs and reduce annual cost of living adjustments.

Pay & Benefits

Trump Proposes 1% Pay Increase for Civilian Federal Workers in 2021

The proposal marks an improvement over last year’s initial pay freeze request, but a significant downgrade from the average 3.1% pay increase that was ultimately enacted for 2020.

Management

White House Memo Could End Unionization at the Pentagon

In a January memo, President Trump authorized Defense Secretary Mark Esper to exempt the Defense Department from the law governing collective bargaining in the federal government.