NTEU CHAPTER 280 - U.S.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
BEN FRANKLIN STATION, BOX 7672, WASHINGTON D.C. 20044 - PHONE 202-566-2788
INTERNET http://www.nteu280.org
E MAIL
Hirzy.John@epa.gov
DESCRIPTION NEWSLETTER CURRENT ISSUES PRESS RELEASES LINKS MEMBERS PAGE HISTORY SITE INDEX
Inside The Fishbowl
Official Newsletter of NTEU 280
November 2007 Volume
22 - Number 16
PRESIDENT Bill
Evans (202)566-2789
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
J. William Hirzy,
Ph.D. (202)566-2788
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Diane
Lynne (202)566-2786
CHIEF STEWARD Rosezella Canty-Letsome (202)566-2784
Diane Rains (410)305-2908
Freshteh Toghrol, Ph.D. (410)305-2755
Dwight
Welch (703)603-8774
SECRETARY Anne-Marie
Pastorkovich
(202)343-9623
TREASURER Dr.
Bernard Schneider (703)305-5555
EDITOR Diane
Lynne (202)566-2786
MAIN UNION NUMBER
(202) 566-2785
UNION FAX NUMBER
(202) 566-1460
NTEU Chapter 280 Website: www.nteu280.org
NTEU National Website: www.nteu.org
Link to NTEU Membership Form: https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf1187.pdf
*1. Fishbowl Flash: PARS Anxieties? by Bill Evans
Anxieties about Your
Up-Coming Performance Appraisal and Recognition System (PARS) Agreement?
We thought the following background
information might be useful as you prepare your PARS performance plans for the
up-coming year. Although NTEU is still
engaged in negotiations with the EPA Labor Relations staff with regard to
linking PARS with awards, management has decided to proceed with training
during the month of December to have the PARS in place for 2008.
What you should know is that the training
modules are not consistent throughout the various AAships. Some opt to train managers and employees
together while others train the managers separately from the employees. In the AAships
which offer managers separate training from employees, the management sessions
are generally longer and more detailed, presumably dealing with issues such as
employee discipline and evaluation procedures.
In addition, the materials handed out at
employee meetings have been tailored to the particular AAship’s
needs and perspectives and differ from one to another. We encourage you to attend the training
provided by your AAship. We at NTEU have attended
many of these sessions in various AAships, however, it has not been possible for us to attend them
all. So, we thought it would be prudent
to give you some points to consider as you begin to sit down with your supervisor
and prepare your performance plan. These
points are listed below.
POINTS TO CONSIDER ABOUT YOUR PARS
AGREEMENT
•
PARS was
forced on all government agencies as part of the President’s Management Agenda,
and it is being implemented by OPM.
There was very little for the Unions to negotiate on this system, and no
one seems to be happy with it, including the managers. Before PARS, EPA had a
pass/fail system of evaluation in which award money was specifically de-linked.
•
A
revised agreement has been signed by NTEU negotiators, but can not yet be
released until OGC clears it. There are
some wording issues on a couple of clauses, and when these are completed we
will distribute the new agreement to the members of our Bargaining Unit.
•
Always
write plenty of assumptions
for factors in a Critical Job Element (CJE) for which you have no control over
and may have an impact on your rating.
•
Request
to review your supervisor’s performance plan for purposes of establishing your
own, since your plan is based on a “cascading of goals.”
•
Individual
Development Plans (IDPs) are required only if you
request one. We highly recommend that you develop an IDP. An IDP identifies developmental needs and
career objectives. This process can include conducting your own
self-assessment, obtaining assessments from others, and most importantly,
identifying opportunities for career growth. The IDP can be your ticket to
specialized training and career enhancement. Your supervisor is required to have
at least an annual discussion with you concerning your career goals and
individual development needs.
•
It is
at the discretion of the manager if an employee is allowed to have a Union
representative present when a PAP (Performance Assistance Plan) has been
initiated. However, an employee may seek
(and we highly recommend this) assistance from a Union representative outside
of the PAP process. If a PIP
(Performance Improvement Plan) is initiated, an employee is entitled to Union
representation.
•
If you
are placed on a PAP or a PIP, contact the
•
Always
communicate early and often with your supervisor, and if you choose, ask for a
Union representative to sit in even if only to witness.
•
If you
have any questions or concerns at any turn in the process, contact your
•
We
are continuing our efforts to convince OARM to implement an agency-wide
evaluation of management, similar to the anonymous 360 reviews that have
periodically been done in some offices.
Bill Evans
President, NTEU Chapter 280
1200
Mail Code: UN 200-T
202 566 2789
202 566 1460 fax
*2. NTEU Chapt. 280 Executive Board
Opening Filled
We are pleased to announce that the Vice
President vacancy on the Executive Board has been filled by Amer
Al-Mudallal, an Environmental Scientist in the
Registration Division of the Office of Pesticide Programs. Thanks to all of the
applicants for applying.