Sequester Update: NWSEO needs your help to fight the Furloughs
Dues Rebate Extended to March 15
(March 1, 2013) – In today’s Washington Post, writer Joe Davidson explores the impact of the sequester on federal employees. The article describes the potential for furloughs and what is being done to mitigate the negative impact on your livelihood.
“Unionized federal employees hope labor leaders can limit the pain of sequestration as much as possible through talks with agency managers before furloughs begin. Those talks are required for workers in bargaining units. Employees not covered by a collective-bargaining agreement don’t have that protection.”
NWSEO leadership (President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and General Counsel) are in high level discussions with NOAA, the NWS, and the Department of Commerce in an attempt to preclude a furlough of NWS employees as a result of the sequester. The parties will be continuing these discussions in earnest over the next several days and weeks.
NWSEO urgently needs your membership support in these efforts and therefore, has decided to extend the dues rebate to March 15, 2013. Only through solidarity of the workforce and the financial support that it brings will NWSEO be able to protect your paycheck.
Nearly one million Department of Defense employees have already been told that they will be furloughed for 22 days as a result of the sequestration – that’s an 8 percent annual pay cut that NWS employees may avoid if NWSEO is successful in its negotiations. NWSEO’s bargaining power and influence is a direct result of the number of NWS employees who have joined the union’s ranks.
If you are not a member, we need you. Please don’t hesitate another day. Attached is an 1187 form to join our professional organization of men and women. The 1187 form for payroll deduction can be faxed to Peter Nuhn at 202-600-2145. You will also receive a $100 rebate for joining before Friday, March 15, 2013.
If you are a member, please encourage your coworkers to join. Just a reminder, because your recruitment efforts strengthen our professional organization, NWSEO will provide airfare, lodging, and group meals for the 2013 convention to any member who recruits two new members to join our professional organization using the 1187 standard form for payroll deduction (they must be recruited between November 14th 2012 and July 31, 2013). The name of the recruiter must be on the 1187. The 2013 annual convention will be held at the Vinoy Renaissance Resort @ Golf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida on Sunday and Monday, September 22 and 23, with steward training on Saturday, September 21.
-NWSEO-