NTEU, FDIC Narrow Down Unresolved Articles
NTEU and the FDIC recently sat down for two more bargaining sessions including one day with a federal mediator. To date, the parties have tentatively agreed to 27 of the more than 50 articles that were opened, with most articles opened by the FDIC in an attempt to water down or completely eliminate key employee rights and benefits.

During discussions, management continued to insist on eliminating employees’ right to grieve performance evaluations after they are used in a personnel action, such as a non-selection or adverse action. NTEU resisted this change as well as pushed for interim evaluations to be conducted when employees spend time on a detail, including a non-FDIC detail. NTEU is also fighting the agency’s proposals to redefine details to exclude Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection assignments within a territory.

On a positive note, NTEU and the FDIC are making progress toward an agreement on rights for employees with disabilities, an article the agency wanted to eliminate but NTEU fought to keep.

The next bargaining session is scheduled for Sept. 28–Oct. 1, when a federal mediator will once again assist the parties in reaching agreement on the remaining articles. If an agreement is not reached on all of the articles during the mediation process, NTEU will request the assistance of the Federal Service Impasses Panel. The FSIP is a third party responsible for settling bargaining disputes and deciding what will be in a parties' final contract. 

Look for further e-mail updates as NTEU continues working to protect and expand upon employee rights and benefits for you or visit the NTEU FDIC bargaining page.