Member News Archives
The Four Winds 2015 Archive Stories Listed Below
The Four Winds 2014 Archives
2014 NWSEO Four Winds Newsletters and Member News Archives
The Four Winds 2013 Archives
2013 NWSEO Four Winds Newsletters and Member News Archives
The Four Winds 2012 Archives
2012 NWSEO Four Winds Newsletters and Member News Archives
The Four Winds 2011 Archives
2011 Four Winds Newsletters and Archives
The Four Winds 2010 News Archives
The Four Winds 2015
CyberSecurity Incident News and Updates
(June 19, 2015) OPM’s web page on “Information About the Recent Cybersecurity Incident” and “Frequently Asked Questions” updated on June 18, 2015. Here are the links to the updated pages. A printable copy is also available. Please post this in your office.
Information page: http://www.opm.gov/news/latest-news/announcements/
FAQ: http://www.opm.gov/news/latest-news/announcements/frequently-asked-questions/
June 12, 2015 print copy
Member News Archives
December 28, 2015
NBC5 Investigates: Staff Shortage Left NWS Scrambling To Cover Tornado Outbreak
December 18, 2015
NWS-NWSEO Address Work-Life Issues at a
Listening Session at WFO Tampa
December 18, 2015 print copy
December 16, 2015
FY 16 Omnibus Bill to Increase Funding for NWS Supports ITO Position
- The appropriations bill has disapproved the Administration’s request to eliminate the Information Technology Officers at the 122 NWS forecast offices for the fourth year in a row.
- The omnibus appropriations bill will cut funding for NOAA overall by $276 million, or 4.6%, below that requested by the Administration.
December 16, 2015 print copy
December 15, 2015
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer highlights NWS Vacancies at Hearing on NOAA Satellites -
GAO Study on NWS Vacancies Begins this Week
Rep. Beyer’s comments are 19:11 minutes into the hearing. You can watch a recording of the hearing here.
The May 8, 2015 formal request for the GAO study
December 15, 2015 print copy
November 25, 2015
Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations -
NWS Negotiators Walk Out
November 25, 2015 print copy
November 6, 2015
Collective Bargaining Agreement Negotiations -
NWSEO Wants You to Help Create Your New CBA
November 6, 2015 print copy
CBA NEGOTIATIONS – NWSEO MEMBER INPUT PROCESS
- Several times a week, your steward will receive an email with one or more articles from the current NWS-NWSEO CBA.
- The steward will forward the email to only the NWSEO members in your office. Members are asked to provide ideas and suggestions to improve the specific articles mentioned in the email. Please reply within 3 days to keep the process moving.
- Please include the correct article numbers in the email subject line.
- If a member comments late, you can still submit it or post it on the NWSEO Facebook site using #CBAmemberinput
- Remember, you have to be an NWSEO member in order to have a say in the NWSEO-NWS negotiations. Please participate – This is your opportunity to have a voice in the future of the National Weather Service.
- Please encourage new NWSEO membership and work to recruit new members in your office.
We thank you for your support on NWSEO and the work you do to keep our professional organization strong.
October 19, 2015
Long-time NWSEO Member David Ondrejik Needs Medical Leave Donations
You Can Help with the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
October 19, 2015 print copy
October 8, 2015
Federal Employee Advocates file complaint with U.S. Special Counsel to Prohibit NWS from Imposing Gag Orders on NWSEO
October 8, 2015 Gag Order print copy
NWSEO Leaders Receive Department of Commerce Gold and Silver Medals
October 8, 2015 Silver and Gold Medals print copy
September 16, 2015
Hawaii Senator Hirono accepts invitation toAddress NWSEO Convention
September 16, 2015 print copy
August 28, 2015
NWSEO Welcomes Two New Employees to our Professional Organization
August 28, 2015 print copy
August 21, 2015
Transparency?
What NWS won’t tell you about plans for the future.
August 21, 2015 print copy
August 14, 2015
Science Committee Leader and Federal Employee Advocate,
Rep. Don Beyer, to address NWSEO National Convention
August 14, 2015
August 10, 2015
Long-time NWSEO Member Steve Ippoliti Needs Medical Leave Donations
You Can Help with the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
August 10, 2015 print copy
July 23, 2015
Operations and Workforce Analysis Project Update
McKinsey Visits Central Region – NWSEO Provides Input and Asks the Tough Questions
July 23, 2015 print copy
July 20, 2015
Taking a Page from Scott Walker’s Playbook – NWS ignores legally binding Agreements;
NWSEO Files Grievance – What you should know
July 20, 2015 print copy
NWS July 16 Notification
July 20, 2015 NWSEO Grievance
July 16, 2015
NWS to Renegotiate its Contract with Employees
NWSEO sends out a Recruitment “All Call” to Strengthen Membership
July 16, 2015 print copy
Agency to employees: Models bad – you’re fired.
The NWS notified the NWSEO today, that it can put you on a PIP or even remove you from service for a bad forecast. In their notification to renegotiate the CBA, they stated “Verification scores should be able to be used as a factor in rating the forecasting and warning performance elements of individual NWS meteorologists.”
NWS unilaterally eliminates $300 health club subsidy.
As part of an unprecedented setback in labor relations, today the NWS informed the NWSEO that it will no longer contribute to the health and well-being of its employees.
The NWS will, however, continue to subsidize transit costs for their Washington, D.C. employees, pay for a staffed health clinic at NWS Headquarters, and pay for gym facilities in the new NCEP building.
NWS to Employees: You have to do the work we assign you – we are just not going to pay you for it.
The NWS notified the NWSEO today, that it will ignore an arbitrators order that the agency give a temporary promotion to employees doing higher graded work. No further details were given to the NWSEO as to who will do the work and if temporary promotions will ever be given.
NWS to Interns: Pound Sand
For the last ten years, except for in a few hard to fill locations, the NWS has given first crack at General Forecaster jobs internally to its intern employees. This is a result of an agreement between the NWSEO, FLRA and the agency. Today, the NWS has unilaterally decided it is no longer going to abide by this agreement. No details have been given on how this will be implemented.
“If they were just looking for a faster way to fill vacancies we would have been happy to amend the agreement,” stated NWSEO Vice President Bill Hopkins. “Instead they just decided they will ignore the agreement.”
NWS to HQ employees: Your room may be shrinking
The NWS notified the NWSEO today, that it will no longer abide by an agreement with the union over space requirements in SSMC2. We assume they are not going to move the walls of the permanent offices occupied by SES employees, so we can only guess the NWS wants to decrease the workspace of low level cubical occupants.
NWS to HSD employees: Sweet Home Alabama
The NWS notified the NWSEO today, that it will no longer abide by an agreement with the union regarding staffing relocations to the National Water Center in Alabama. NWS is going back on its word. The agency will now involuntarily reassign Hydrologic Services Division employees from Silver Spring to the National Water Center in Alabama.
Employees and their families who have established roots in the Washington, D.C. area may now be forced to leave, with no recourse, just because a manager says so.
NWS Leadership: We can have a health clinic, free vaccinations, and transportation subsidies. Employees: No paper towels or Purell for you.
The NWS notified NWSEO today that it will no longer provide paper towels, tissues, hand sanitizer, disinfectant spray or wipes, disposable cups, plates and utensils. One can only wonder if toilet paper is the next to go.
June 22, 2015
Senator Thune Withdraws Consolidation Bill – Introduces Substitute LegislationFocusing on Severe Weather Communications
June 22, 2015 print copy
“Weather Alerts for a Ready Nation Act of 2015”
June 19, 2015
Long-time NWSEO Steward and Member Tim Shy Needs Medical Leave Donations
You Can Help with the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
June 19, 2015 print copy
June 16, 2015
NWSEO Opposes Bill S.1573 - South Dakota Senator Thune proposes NWS Consolidation
Senate Bill 1573
NWSEO NEWS RELEASE
NWSEO DETAILED RESPONSE
NWSEO Speaking Points
Related News Articles
Statement from John "Rusty" Russell, President of the
U.S. Council of the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA)
June 13, 2015
Department of Commerce insists on Gag Order on NWSEO Grievance Settlements:
DOC doesn’t want employees to know what NWSEO has accomplished.
NWS and NWSEO will arbitrate a $30 overtime claim as a result.
June 13, 2015 print copy
June 11, 2015
Senate Appropriations Committee Adds $14 million to NWS, keeps ITOs
June 11, 2015 print copy
June 9, 2015
Convention News - 40th Annual NWSEO Convention and National Elections Update
Nominations are posted on NWSEO.org
June 9, 2015 print copy
May 19, 2015
House Appropriations Committee Fully Funds NWS
Rejects proposal to eliminate ITOs
The remainder of NOAA funding is cut by 16 percent.
May 19, 2015 print copy
May 17, 2015
House Science Committee Democrats seek GAO Study on
NWS Understaffing
May 17, 2015 print copy
Ranking Democrats' Letter requesting GAO Review
May 12, 2015
NWSEO to file follow-up grievance on Erroneous Restart Dates which delay step increases.
If you have been temporarily promoted, check your step increase anniversary date.
May 12, 2015 print copy
May 7, 2015
ITO Update
May 4, 2015
2015 NWSEO Election Letter and Convention Details
2015 Election Letter
May 4, 2015 print copy
April 30, 2015
NWSEO asks members to participate in the 2015 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey
Email distribution of FEVS begins next week.
April 30, 2015 print copy
April 20, 2015
2015 NWSEO Elections Preparations Underway -
Address Updates Requested
April 20, 2015 print copy
March 24, 2015
In Recognition and Appreciation of NWSEO Lifetime Member Chris Robbins
March 18, 2015
Save the Date: The NWSEO 40th Annual National Convention is
September 26-27, 2015
(A Saturday-Sunday Event)
March 18, 2015 print copy
March 16, 2015
NWSEO Member Mark Love Needs Medical Leave Donations
You Can Help with the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
March 16, 2015 print copy
March 10, 2015
Workplace Bullying Survey
Please take this anonymous survey to help one of our members with a Leadership Presentation.
March 10, 2015 print copy
February 27, 2015
Agency engages in a wave of bad-faith bargaining at
the National Tsunami Warning Center
February 22, 2015
February 11, 2015
Forms must be submitted by February 27, 2015
Form A must be submitted between January 1, 2015 and February 27, 2015 to receive benefits for 2015.
Form B must be submitted between January 1, 2015 and February 27, 2015 for reimbursement for the year 2014
Complete information on the National Weather Service Health Club and Wellness Services Fees Reimbursement Program is available here.
February 4, 2015
NWS fraudulently signs
NWSEO Headquarter Region Chair’s name on “joint” employee communications
January 29, 2015
NWSEO Member Katie Dedeaux Needs Medical Leave Donations
You Can Help with the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
January 20, 2015
Erroneous “restart” dates are delaying step increases.
If you have been temporarily promoted, check your step increase anniversary date.
January 16, 2015
National Weather Service ends 2014 with a $35 million carry-over in funds used to hire employees –
Meanwhile the agency rolls the dice on mission critical functions due to understaffing
January 6, 2015
Four Winds Update: Hiring Freeze Arbitration Update, Southern Region Director X. William Proenza Retires, Health Forms
The Four Winds 2014 Archives
2014 NWSEO Four Winds Newsletters and Member News Archives
The Four Winds 2013 Archives
2013 NWSEO Four Winds Newsletters and Member News Archives
The Four Winds 2012 Archives
2012 NWSEO Four Winds Newsletters and Member News Archives
The Four Winds 2011 Archives
2011 Four Winds Newsletters and Archives
The Four Winds 2010 News Archives
Transcripts from the December 19, 2013 Arbitration on Personal Use Items:
NWSEO v. U.S. Department of Commerce, NOAA regarding Personal Use Items.
Change of Address and Email Address Form
Have you moved recently? If so, please send your new address to
Lisa Luciani, Director of Communications, so that we can update our records. In addition to your mailing address, providing us with your current personal email address also helps us to keep you informed. It only takes a minute and ensures that you'll receive all of the NWSEO news.
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