NWS Refuses to Bargain over $2 Million Reduction of Travel Expenses
NWSEO Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge
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(February 3, 2012) NWSEO filed an unfair labor practice charge against NWS after the agency’s refusal to bargain over a $2 million dollar proposal to reduce travel expenditures for FY12. The agency has reduced all travel with the exception of operationally necessary travel of unit employees without providing NWSEO with the information or opportunity to bargain over the reductions.
NWSEO demanded to bargain over the travel reductions and submitted a request for clarification and information to prepare bargaining proposals in December 2011, immediately after the union was informed of the proposal. To date, the NWS refused to answer the request and has implemented the reductions in funding without giving NWSEO the information or the opportunity to bargain on this issue. By doing so, the NWS failed in its obligations to provide the information and violated its obligation to bargain in good faith.
“We understand the budget is tight and we have always worked with NWS to find ways to achieve its mission efficiently and effectively,” said NWSEO president Dan Sobien. “Travel affords employees the training and ability to carry out the agency’s mission, as they learn new and better ways to improve on products and services. Mission critical functions of NWS are not the place to make cuts, especially when about one-tenth of the NWS budget is paying for contractors.”
-NWSEO-