GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
CONGRESSIONAL SCHEDULE: The House and Senate are in recess for the week of
May 29.
EXECUTIVE ORDER AFFECTING FEDERAL EMPLOYEES: On Friday, May 25, the
President issued three Executive Orders (EOs) affecting federal employees and their
unions. NATCA staff joined other unions on a call with the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in advance of
the public release of the EOs. One of the orders, titled "
Executive Order Ensuring
Transparency, Accountability, and Efficiency in Taxpayer Funded Union Time Use," is
intended to reduce the use of union official time government-wide. Another, entitled
"Executive
Order Developing Efficient, Effective, and Cost-Reducing Approaches to
Federal Sector Collective Bargaining," is intended to reduce the time it takes to negotiate
collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and to reduce the costs contained within them.
The last, "Executive
Order Promoting Accountability and Streamlining Removal
Procedures Consistent with Merit System Principles," is intended to expedite the process
for removing employees from federal service in performance based adverse actions.
OPM has advised that it will publish guidance advising agency heads how to implement
these orders in the near future. NATCA already is reviewing and analyzing these EOs to
see how they affect NATCA, our members, and our CBAs. We also are working closely
with other federal employee unions in order to coordinate our efforts. Additionally,
NATCA Government Affairs staff is working with members of Congress and their staff to
gather any additional information about the timeline and substance of the OPM guidance.
NATCA will spare no expense in fighting all attempts to undermine our CBAs, our
members' rights, and our right to exist as a union.
NATCA IN WASHINGTON: NATCA held its annual lobby week, "NATCA in Washington
(NiW)," on Capitol Hill this year from May 20-23. During the conference, participants
visited their members of Congress to discuss important topics affecting the NATCA
membership. On the House side, activists asked for Members of Congress to oppose
any efforts to attack federal employee retirement, including the elimination of the Social
Security annuity supplement that was included in the recent letter from OPM to Speaker
Ryan. On the Senate side, participants had two asks: in addition to the federal employee
retirement issue, activists asked Senators to encourage Senate leadership to complete
action on a long-term FAA reauthorization bill before August recess. During NIW,
participants heard from speakers including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-
NY), House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), Rep.
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and FAA Acting Administrator Dan Elwell.
OPM LETTER ON SSA ANNUITY: On May 4, OPM sent a letter to Speaker Ryan with a
legislative proposal that greatly affects federal employees' retirement, including air traffic
controller retirement. It proposes to: (1) eliminate the Social Security annuity
supplement; (2) increase federal employee FERS retirement contributions 1 percent per
year until the contributions reach 7.25 percent; (3) reduce CSRS cost-of-living
adjustments (COLAs) by 0.5 percent each year and eliminate COLAs for FERS for all
current and future retirees; and (4) modify the CSRS and FERS annuity calculations to
be based upon a high-5 years rather than the current high-3 years. During this year's
NIW, participants met with their members of Congress and staff to make them aware of
the OPM letter and seek commitment that they would oppose any efforts to cut federal
employee retirement, including the elimination of the Social Security annuity supplement.
