Welll here I am.

Moving along

Well, things have settled somewhat. I really hate my job. Maybe there is something somewhere that can help. I wish my wife had another job as well. She needs a break.

Still, on October 11th, there will be a meeting with management as we go over the contract with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Maybe something could be worked out. Hopefully the overtime issue will be solved then.

Change?

Well there is a possibility that there will be a change or two in my life. Whether it is at my current place or another. Change might be a comin!

The man who screwed up doesn't quite get the idea that he is still in trouble. Just yesterday, at our site, someone found the combination card to our safe! Also, the bosses want to know where the bag that he kept the money is. Might there be more money in it? Is it possible that donated funds are in it?

Needless to say, it isn't over.

Coward

The guy blamed me. He blamed me!!!!

You know what? I actually found the money! I solved the problem. I saved his ass. Me! He found out today. You know what? He tried to be chummy with me. he wanted to me to talk to him like nothing happened. My God, the guy try to get me in on a federal crime! I work for the federal government, and there were over $3000 missing! He tried to blame me! Coward!

I solved it. You know why? Because I did what I told him to do. Step back and think about it, then find it. I did it and found the money. Where was it you ask? In the drawer! He had no idea! I did the right thing. I just wish that there were good people somewhere who doing the right thing for would help. He isn 't. He is a coward.

I will speak with him on operational and administrative issues only.

Tired

Man I did not sleep very well. There is case about a guy who lost $2000 probably more in cash, and over $1000 in cards at my work site. And he just simply won't accept the fact that he is on the verge of being fired or worse! The local invesigator is giving him until Thursday to come up with a statement and show the records of deposit. He wrote the boss expectting to be off schedule for the day. I suggested that he rewrite the boss and tell the boss that everything will be worked out amongst the staff. He says that he will not do that. I cannot believe that he does that. Still, his area is a mess and this was something that was bound to happen.

His financial situation is dire. He has asked colleagues for money. He recently bought a house. He tries to put a lot of it on me. Like I am his lawyer. I am a steward, not a lawyer. This guy is going down fast. Still, at the bottom of it all, I feel for him. I am the only guy who will talk to him at all. Oh well, I will do what I can.

Problems

Well, it has been a while. Still working on asbestos. Now, there is a nearby site that wants to join our Union. The agency is fighting it. We have been working on the overtime issue. Managment has changed the procedure in overtime without notifying, or offering to bargain with, the Union.

Tried talking to lawyers over the Asbstos issue. They really couldn't do anything as the company that produced it is no longer in business. We are in conmtact with a branch in Washington and they are helping us prepare an Environmental health hazrad request with NIOSH.

The basic issue is that management will not sit and inform the union on what they are doing. Bottom line, we are going to probably have to file another Unfair labor Practice

ULP and Asbestos

Back again. Well, the ULP has been up and down. First it looks like we will lose. Then we will win. Now, again, it looks like we are going to lose. I just don't get it. These guys have permanent disability what right does the Agency have to constantly test an employee who it already knows is disabled? What a fucking strange country.

My work site has asbestos all over it. My site has just released a plan to have outside agencies "remove" all the asbestos in the site. The cost is some $11 million. members have already come around me and asked if there is something that we could do about ity. Well, we will start.

Movement

Some movement on the contracting out. Managment folk have offered to sit down and hear about our questions about the contracting out of some operations. I am ok with this, but some managers thought that the issuing was canceled as a result of agreeing with the conference. Uh, no, not true. I am happy and willing to talk. But The Union will not give up any of its rights in order to do so. Don't know exactly when the conference is taking place, but I am sure that it will be sometime next week.

Reply to FLRA and Demand to Bargain

The FLRA gave us a few days to update the ULP we have with the site. Some corrections were made today. I think we made it stronger. Who knows, maybe something will happen. One thing that I really wanted to focus on was that the site did not make the actions about biannual medical updates site wide. No, they made it for only one person. Thus, it cannot be a park wide policy. Perhaps they should have negotiated. Maybe we will win. Then again, maybe not.

We are working on a demanbd to bargain. We want the staff and the managment to know that the Union is here and working. managment has brought a contractor to do some work, they say, in support of the interpretive staff. Well, the contract is very vague and not really specific. So, the Union will issue a demand to bargain, while the contract is going on, and hopefully have a seat at the table tow ork this out. Staff is concerned that their jobs might be contracted. I don't think that that will happen. But the positions are a different. Anyway, Tuesday we should be working on our Amendments and updates to the ULP. Then, the demand will be issued. Oh, we are think of having the two employees who lost time to go the Doctors to griev for it back. Not a bad idea.

Talks And FMCS

Well this round of talks has come to and end. I must tell you that it looked like we were finishing up. We thought for sure that the management of the site would actually want to work together. But, they stopped on four artciles. They want the right to hold written admonishments to employees for two years. We feel that they should helpd for 6 months. They actually came down to 18 months and wouldn't budge. This put the staff in a terrible place. One m,istake, one screw up, and they have something in their files for two years?! Pretty bad. There was alsoa leave issue. Managment wants the right to call back staff on an emergency (no problem) and an "urgent operating need." Now, just what the hell, is an "urgent operating need" if it isn't an emergency? Lost us there. They never really anwsered the question. That issue was also tabled. We also tabled two other sentences that has to be do with discipline and leave.

The issue however was the ULP. Yes, it has been a while since the policy was intiated. And the Union officers did not do anything. Yes, my predcessors were wrong in that regard. We wanted to the managment to rescind the policy and, as a result we call off teh ULP. They refused. To remind you, if anybody reads this, our ULP was about the Managment policy of sending a known diabetic to the Doctor's every six months to prove to the employer that the employee still has diabetes. Of course there has been no cure. So the whole thing is absolute bullshit. The fact of the matter is, is that the employee's boss doesn't like him. They have never liked each other at all. That does not justify what they are doing. Oh, by the way, they aren't doing this site wide. Only to this, and one other gujy, who both have reasonable accomodation and light duty because they are diabetic. There are other employees who are diabetic as well as diabled, and they have never recieved a note from managment. Our National Rep, a brilliant guy who thinks with cool calculation spoke with passion and logic yesterday. He tried, however, to reach across the isle. They weren't buying it. This Federal Institution is not a supporter of disabled people who need help. I wish to God I could name the place I work for.

As a result, we will be seeking Federal mediation. Click on the title of the entry for the FMCS. It isn't something we want to do, but we will. because it is right. The supe doesn't want to work together. Well, we will do what we have to to protect the staff.

Talks and ULP

Talks restarted today. First things first, the Prez called up the FLRA and it looks like we may lose the ULP. The reason being that the Union waited to long to reply. It isn't our fault now, it is that the poeple in the position lost because they didn't do anything when this happened. They waited to long to reply. Still, the National Rep will be talking to management's rep ab out getting the medical policy over turned. They spoke after talks. I was annoyed at this. Mostly at ourselves for not realizing it. Still, we are right and we stood up for our people. I think this may change however. I wish this was a time when this country would support workers. It isn't that way now. Unions don't suck and we are out there to help.

Talks continued, hopefully for the final time. We are going over issues tabled. So far things are moving smoothly. We have gone over some 18 articles, so we are moving rather fast. i think we might be done by Thursday. i hope so. It is isn't that I don't enjoy the talks. I do. It helps me understand where Management is coming from. God knows I am bored at my job. i would like to get back to teh staff. There are contracting out issues that are coming.

ULP

Well the Prez got an e-mail today from the Human Resources person. It stated that they knew that the FLRA person was coming buy to speak about the ULP. The prez sent me an e-mail about it. I replied something along the lines, "Big deal. I am not scared." This is a tough time for him. He is nervouse. But he is doing the right thing. We are standing up to abusive management. They cannot be allowed to make someone do this. It is wrong and we had to file. Still, the Prez got the e0maila nd handled it in the professional way that he is known. I am glad that he is in the position he is in.

HR also sent us a brand new Official time form. She told us that we have to fill this out before the event. Well, it is funny. We do that all the time, but, it is the Direct Superviser who doesn't get it in on time. Not our fault.

Had a long time employee come to me about general attitude of the direct superviser. She thought he was rude to her. She can be somethying of a nag. So I don't know that I blame him for being a little annoyed. Still, he needed to be a little nicer. Anyway, tomorrow the FLRA will be calling the Prez. Wonder if National Rep will call.

Another FOIA

Got the reply from the Supe to our request for a FOIA. It wasn't stone walling but it wasn't open door either. Basically he just showed us what is on the web page. Big deal. Here is a guy who, when he came here, said that things were going to be different. Things will be open and that there will be more of a team spirit. Well, that just hasn't happened. He has been hostile to the staff ever since he arrived. In fact it is the prevailing attitude of all managers. This reply is no exception. Well, today we prepared a more detailed FOIA. We want the specifics on three organizations that are contracted here to do the duties that we do. He wants to play hardball? Well, fine then, so will we.

I will tell you what has started this. It is the Bush administration. They are no friends to the everyday citizen. Yes, I am a Federal worker. I get great benefits. But I deserve respect. I love my country. It is great and beautiful. If you knew where I worked, you would understand and agree with me. The staff here gets none because the administration is not a supporter of the employee. They support the employer. I used to be a Republican. I am now a Socialist. It is scary really scray just hostile the administration truly is.

A new Day and a New situation-Federal Pension web page

Well we have started the new year and it will be OK I guess. Coming up on the 16th, we will have negotiations with the Management. They should be straight forward, and, hopefully, end. We have been meeting off and on for the past seven months. It is time for these to end. We have a new person at the Human Resources at the site. Hopefully, this will goa lot smoother than it did before. We have a person in my division who is about to retire. The Managment has not been as helpful as it could be. They basically gave the papers with numbers and sent him on his way. Noty as helpful as they could be, but they guy isn't as nice as he can be either. Still, pensions are important, and if you click on the title, you can go to OPM and learn the complicated process of retirement.

Prez and the Supe

The Prez states that the Supe was short and almost confrontational. I advised that the Prez note this meeting for future purposes. Remember that our Union has filed an ULP against the site. We felt that the administration had not been forthcomoing, nor would they sit and speak with the Union whenever they had a problem. When that did occure, the managment was short and confrontational. Prez tells me that yes, things were short, but not worthy of documentation. He feels that the meeting was as a result of our persistance. I hope he is right, but I doubt it. I think again, that teh Supe was short because he did not want to meet with the Prez. We are beneath the Supe. We are staff and should be grateful, perhaps beholden, to the managers of our site. I hope I am wrong, but I doubt it.

Meeting between the Prez and the Supe

The Prez met with the Supe about the 15 minute breaks. The Supe said that he would aloow staff who are diabled (The diabetiocs) take their breaks back in the office. He (The supe) did not want to see the breaks abused. Of course that begs the quesdtion, "Why not Sir, go after the violaters instead of attacking the staff as a whole?" To punish the whole for the problems of the few is wrong. That is just the way that things go.

I tell you I am off until Janauary 7th. When I go back, it will be too soon.

Happy New Year

Still on annual leave. Have a happy and safe new year.

Holiday

Well it has been a while. I have had assignments to accomplish and, of course, the Christmas holiday. I am also attempting to learn the wonderful language of French. We are going to restart talks sometime in January. It will either be on January 18, or the 24, who knows?

Well, some news. We filed a demand to bargain against the site. They were about tobring in contracted labor to conduct our work. The managers took great exception to this. Still, we sat down and talked. The Union had no problem with waht they are doing. At least for now.

The Supe will issue a document that states that all employees will take their 15 minuites out in the field. The Union will meet with the Supe to discuss this. We two issues. Obvious bathroom breaks, and, there are employees who are diabetic. These issues will be brought up in a meeting with the Supe on January 2nd. I think that the ULP's will be discussed.

We FOIA'd the site for all contracts, Memoranda of Understanding and Cooperating Agreements over the past three eyars. This will give the site the idea that the Union is very much looking into what is going on. They (Managers) will just tell what theya re doing. Notice I am not saying 'consult.' I am talking about inform. They won't do it. Click on 'Holiday' to go to the Department of Justice page on the Freedom of Information Act. It is important that every American know what their government is doing.

lastly we are starting to look into one of the Cooperating partners. The site and the Cooperatyying partners seem to have a financial deal. What I mean by this is that both seem to be giving money to the other. Is that legal? I have looked at 501 c 3, and I am confused. But it is worthy of looking into further.

Emails

Well we have dealt all around with the demand to bargain. Most of management, in their ignorance I might add, seemed to have thought that it was a grievance. They took it personally. Well, there is nothing I can do about that. Some people in another division of the site, are still nervous. So, the Prez will be composing a Freedom of Information Act request for all contracts, cooperating agreements and Memornada of Understanding that deal with work that is done by outside businesses. We will show them (The staff) that while it isn't a big deal, we will keep a sharp watch on management to show that the Union is on the job.

Heard from two independent sources that the Deputy Boss and a previous supervisor wrote e-mails to each other that contained derogatory comments of staff. I will get these e-mails if I can. The Deputy is very arrogant and is no doubt still keeping them on her computer. I want to read them

Do you know if e-mails are under FOIA? I wish someone could help on this. My work place is bad, really bad. The National Union feels that the politicians should be brought in. I am starting to see why.

Supervisor Reaction

They just don't get it. I spoke to the direct supervisor yesterday for over an hour. He just doesn't get it. This wasn't about him. It was about what is right. They cannot change the position of staff without the involvement of th Union. The direct Boss feels that he is "Just one of the guys." Well, he isn't any more. He is a boss. He cannot be "one of the guys." I believe that he really means it. I have been told that the Supe has also taken this demand to bargain very personally. he just doesn't get it either. It is simply a bargaining move. Not to flip them off. We need to know what they are planning. We are talking about people's lives here. I appreciate and will not deny management's need to guide and lead. But, they also have an obligation to keep the staff informed on any plans. These meetings went on for over an hour. I believe that they were hurt. Not only was it because they did not read the contract, it is also that they did not realize that the staff will look out for itself.

That being said, some managers have started filling us in on what is going on regarding positions. There is a memo floating around to the President of the Union that says that the fleet of cars at the site will be managed by GSA. However, this memo does not mention that there are two staff members who will lose their positions as a result of the contract. We know that this is happening because of an in house memo obtained by the Union. It is this kind of obstruction that forces the union to go to ULP again. We are not going to be kept out of the loop.

What do you think should happen?