News
05.23.13
TEAM/Local 161 Makes Historic Appearance at the Supreme Court of Canada
On May 16, 2012, TEAM-IFPTE Local 161 appeared before the Supreme Court of Canada in its effort to overturn the Manitoba Court of Appeal's decision, that reversed the Court of Queen's Bench's $100 million monetary award to members of the Defined Benefit Pension Plan.05.20.13
Senate Judiciary preparing to throw American STEM workers under the bus
As the Senate Judiciary Committee continues to mark-up comprehensive immigration reform legislation, Senator Schumer and others have apparently agreed to allow Senator Hatch to deliver unfettered access to cheap STEM labor all across the globe.05.15.13
MSPB Replies to IFPTE letter on furloughs
MSPB Clerk of the Board, William Spencer, sent a four sentence response to the May 1st IFPTE letter asking the MSPB to "issue a pre-emptive statement of opinion as to whether or not DOD workers could prevail at the MSPB if they experience a furlough." In the May 13th letter Spencer said that, "we are unable to provide the requested advisory opinion."05.13.13
Senate Judiciary Committee set to consider H-1B portion of Immigration reform bill
As the committee prepares to mark-up Title IV of S. 744, IFPTE urges Committee members to, "support all amendments that come before you that provide much needed transparency and reforms to the H-1B program, and that prioritize American workers over that of the high tech industry’s search for cheap labor."05.07.13
IFPTE urges Senators to support the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA) Reauthorization
In expressing support for the bill, IFPTE tells lawmakers that, "During a time when our nation’s unemployment rate continues to hover at 7.5%, IFPTE is pleased that Chairwoman Boxer and Ranking Member Vitter have worked so closely, and in such a bipartisan fashion, to move this ‘Jobs bill’ quickly through committee and to the Senate floor."05.03.13
House Set to Consider Legislation Aimed at Replacing Overtime Pay with Compensatory Time
In a letter sent to all House members urging them to vote no on HR 1406, IFPTE says that, "Not only would this bill frustrate the hiring incentive, it will also result in a pay cut for non-exempt FLSA workers who work in excess of 40 hours per week."05.03.13
IFPTE Endorses Colleen Hanabusa for Senate
Today in Hawaii Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa announced her candidacy to run for the United States Senate. IFPTE reacted to the announcement by extending their membership’s endorsement of her candidacy.05.01.13
IFPTE Sends Letter to MSPB on DoD Furloughs
In light of Secretary Hagel’s reported decision to continue with the across-the-board furloughs at DoD, IFPTE sent this letter today to MSPB Chair, Susan Grundmann, asking her to evaluate the situation at DoD and issue a pre-emptive statement as to what MSPB might do with the thousands of appeals expected to be filed by furloughed employees.04.30.13
End Sequestration Now!
Sequestration, the $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts that include furloughs of federal government workers, is having a deep and devastating impact on employees and their families. These furloughs come on top of three straight years of frozen pay that federal workers continue to experience.04.26.13
Furlough Fallout Continues - House members weigh-in with DOD
In a letter to Defense Secretary Hagel, a bipartisan group of 116 House members remind the Pentagon that the FY13 defense spending bill approved by Congress gives the DOD more than enough money to avoid furloughs, saying that the bill, "increases funding to the Department’s Operation and Maintenance accounts from FY12 to FY13 by an amount that exceeds the anticipated savings from the actions imposed in the January 10 guidance."04.22.13
Senate to Vote on Marketplace Fairness Act Today
IFPTE urges Senators to support the legislation, as it, "gives states the ability to streamline their particular tax systems so that they are able to collect the taxes that they are owed."04.19.13
Judge Randy Frye addresses the National Press Club
Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ), IFPTE Judicial Council 1 President, Judge Randy Frye addresses the National Press Club.04.18.13
Senators Collins and King, and Representative Hanabusa continue to advocate for federal workers
As the Pentagon contemplates the furlough fate of their civilian workforce, Maine Senators Susan Collins and Angus King sent a letter to Secretary Hagel saying that, "it is our position that the most consistent and fair approach to furloughs would be to allow each DoD component to maximize its state of readiness."04.17.13
IFPTE Responds to the Release of the Senate Immigration bill
Union says that the bill almost completely ignores "obvious fixes" to H-1B program.04.12.13
Indefinite suspension of the STOCK Act online financial disclosure passes Congress
On Thursday the Senate passed S. 716, legislation supported by IFPTE to indefinitely suspend the requirement that 28,000 federal workers post their personal financial information online. The House followed suit on Friday, sending the bill to President Obama for his signature. Absent the suspension the online financial reporting requirement will go into effect on April 15th.04.12.13
House looking to shut down the NLRB
As the House prepared to consider HR 1120, legislation that will put the NLRB out of business, IFPTE alerts lawmakers that the bill, "will do a disservice to workers, employers and consumers."04.11.13
IFPTE Bids a Fond Farewell to OPM Director, John Berry
Union Calls Berry "A staunch supporter of federal workers"04.10.13
Obama Administration budget targets retirees, federal workers
In a letter to the President, IFPTE writes that, "sadly, a major part of your budget embraces the Heritage Foundation’s scapegoating of workers and retirees in your long-term fiscal planning."04.05.13
Union-Busting in Canada - IFPTE Stands Against Bill C-377
Bill C-377, which requires burdensome and needless financial reporting requirements targeted only at unions is "trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist."04.05.13
IFPTE presses Congress to repeal STOCK Act online financial disclosure requirement
Responding to last week’s release of the NAPA study, IFPTE informed Senate leadership, "that NAPA’s clear and decisive findings that the, "online financial disclosure requirement can harm both federal agency missions and employees," is reason enough for Congress to permanently repeal Sections 8 and 11 of the STOCK Act."
