NWS Signs $4.7 Million Contract with Overland Resource Group -
Aiming for a Retrenchment of the Workforce
(August 28, 2014) Before asking NWSEO for input, the agency forged ahead with a $4.7 million contract to the Overland Resource Group to “reframe the relationship” with the union. NWSEO has long maintained the desire to meet with NWS leadership in good faith to work through the issues through direct communication.
“NWS leaders allowed critical positions to remain vacant for years; they have plans to terminate six pilot programs that enhance weather and emergency response services. Yet, they have a boatload of money for a contract to “reframe our relationship,” said NWSEO President Dan Sobien. “A meeting in good faith, fostering direct communications should not cost taxpayers $4.7 million.”
Exorbitant cost aside, the union is not convinced that this is in the interest of employees. The NWS provided statement of work for Overland Resource Group that reveals they been contracted by the NWS with the aim of convincing NWSEO to accept further retrenchment in the workforce. Specifically, ORG has been engaged to provide the NWS with “expert advice” in labor relations in order to facilitate “major organizational change” and to engage NWSEO “through pre-decisional input and I & I negotiations” in order to bring about these organizational changes. The ORG statement of work recognizes that these organizational changes “cannot be achieved” unless NWSEO is brought to heel as a result of ORG’s “strategic expert advice.”
NWSEO is interested in filling the hundreds of NWS vacancies to return the agency to more productive and less stressful work environment. Morale in the NWS continues to suffer which is reflected in the latest employee viewpoint survey. The union’s goals include expanding the role of the NWS with a new infusion of science and technology to drive new products and services. NWSEO wants our agency to grow and challenge our workforce to innovate in order to be at the cutting edge of technology - delivering products and services in a format that reaches our targeted audiences.
NWSEO will never support the closing of NWS offices; instead our professional organization believes in supporting the health and well-being of NWS employees (many of whom work rotating shifts) to help them balance work life issues. Staffing shortages have made balancing work-life extremely difficult.
NWSEO needs the support of all of our bargaining unit employees to deliver this message to the Congress. This work is only possible because of NWSEO membership and the dues provided by your co-workers. If you’re already a NWSEO member, thank you. For those who are not NWSEO members we would like to invite you to join our professional organization. Employees who wish to join NWSEO through Payroll Deduction may fill out a Standard Form 1187 and provide the necessary information in boxes 1, 4, and 5, then sign and date the form at the bottom. The form may be faxed to NWSEO at 202-600-2145 or emailed to NWSEO Director of Membership Services, Peter Nuhn at Peter@nwseo.org.
Now is the time to join. Those who join NWSEO by SF-1187 by October 1, 2014 will receive a $100 dues rebate check! The current dues for payroll deduction are only one percent of your salary to a maximum per pay period amount of $21.58 per pay period.
NWSEO is the only organization with the ability to lobby Congress and the Administration to preserve NWS jobs, promote better working conditions and career promotions for NWS, and participate in collective bargaining.
-NWSEO-
No one cares more for National Weather Service employees than
National Weather Service employees.
No one works harder for National Weather Service employees than
National Weather Service employees.
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