A publication of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association
Issue link: http://natca.uberflip.com/i/587238
The eComp system is used government - wide and allows employees to file OWCP claims electronically, directly with the Department of Labor (DOL) rather than submitting a pape r form to the FAA OWCP office. Forms CA - 1, CA - 2, and CA - 7 may now be submitted electronically. Employees will immediately receive case numbers upon f iling, which will allow them to check the status of their cases throughout ea ch stage of the claim process. The employees will now also be able to upload documents to submit claim forms. The FAA is also simplifying its Leave Buy Back process, which allows employees who take leave as the result of an on - the - job injury to repurchase that leave on ce DOL has accepted the claim. Currently, the Agency coordinates with the Department of the Interior (DOI) to process the leave buy back, and the process takes appr o ximately six to eight months. Under the new process, the employees will notify their supervisors of the desire to restore leave aft er DOL has accepted the claim. The supervisor will amend the timecard from sick or annual leave to LWOP, which will automat ic ally create an indebtedness. DOI will initiate the collection process, the employee will agree to the amount to be repai d, and leave will be restored. The employee will then file the CA - 7 and DOL will issue the payment to the employee, who uses it to pay t he indebtedness. The employee will receive payment from DOL before the first payment comes due on the indebtedness. The Agency estimates that this process will take two to three weeks. POCs: National OWCP Representative Kevin Bianchi and LR Attorney Nicol e Vitale BRIEFINGS On October 9, 2015 , NATCA requested a briefing on Cease and Desist Changes on AIT Helpdesk and Deskside Services. We are currently in the process of scheduling this briefing. NATCA POCs: Labor Relations Attorney Nicole Vitale and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson On October 8, 2015 , NATCA requested a briefing on HRPM, Vol. 9, Performance Management PM - 9.2, Recognizing Employees. We are currently in the process of scheduling this briefing. NATCA POCs: Senior Labor Relations Atto rney Erina Hammond and Labor Relations Coordinator Kendal Manson GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE : The House and Senate were in session last week. Both chambers will recess for the Columbus Day holiday and return the week of October 19. HOUSE SPEAKER ELECTION ON HOLD : House Republicans were scheduled to elect a new speaker to take over for John Boehner, who was set to resign the speakership and his congressional seat effective October 30. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was most lik ely to be nominated, but as the conference meeting began, McCarthy shockingly withdrew his name from the race. In a statement following the announcement, McCarthy said that the GOP needs a "new face" and he did not want the job if he would not get a vast m ajority of their votes. Timeline : House lawmakers left D.C. without a timeline for naming a new speaker or a clear sense of what's ahead. With the election for speaker postponed until an unknown date, Boehner will remain in the job until someone new is