About NWSEO
NWSEO
is the labor organization and professional association that represents
4,000 employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
in the U.S. Department of
Commerce, including:
- The forecasters,
technicians and support personnel of the National Weather Service, the
nation's official source for weather forecasts and warnings;
- The attorneys in
NOAA's Office of General Counsel, who are responsible for enforcing
laws that protect the nation's environment and natural resources;
- The civilian crews of the "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft based in Tampa, Florida;
- The technicians who track and command the nation's weather satellites from Wallops Island, Virginia; and
- The hurricane
researchers and other scientists and support personnel at the Atlantic
Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Key Biscayne, Florida.
NWSEO Working for You:
The Top 5 Accomplishments of 2010
NWSEO works hard to improve working conditions and the quality of NWS services. The diligent work of the NWSEO produced these top five accomplishments in 2010-2011:
- Saving the CWSUs from consolidation – a culmination of a five year lobbying effort by NWSEO to preserve both aviation safety and NWS employee jobs. NWSEO spent over $200,000 in this lobbying effort and obtained the support of the Senate Commerce Committee, the House Science Committee and the House and Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittees
- Securing back pay for overtime for nearly 200 NWS employees. Securing FLSA Non-Exempt status of an additional 165 NWS employees. The NWS has agreed to pay two years’ lost overtime wages and liquidated damages for those employees, as well.
- Winning an appeal to bargain to increase staffing at Anchorage WFO by 10 positions - this directs the National Weather Service to bargain with NWSEO over a proposal that would increase staffing at the Anchorage WFO by ten positions.
- Securing special projects designed to increase aviation safety, which include increased NWS personnel at the CWSU and WFOs in New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago.
- NWSEO secured an agreement that upgrades to a GS -8 every Administrative Support Assistant at field offices around the country. The GS -8 upgrade includes approximately one million dollars in extra pay and benefits to the lowest paid NWS employees each and every year from now on.
The Top 20 NWSEO Accomplishments
NWSEO Negotiated Health Benefits Package for NWS Employees
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Member Change of Address FormHave you moved recently? If so, please send your name and 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 helps us to keep you informed. It only takes a minute and ensures that you'll receive all of the NWSEO news.
NWSEO Cares: Medical Leave Donations
NWSEO Members have always been generous with leave donations for co-workers in need.
If you are able to donate leave time, please complete the Donor Leave Transfer Application and submit it to your ASA. If you would like to learn more about the Leave Transfer Program, including a full list of participants, click here. NWSEO thanks you for your generosity and care!
NWSEO Store
You can purchase NWSEO Merchandise such as mugs,
t-shirts, and branch magnets at the NWSEO Store.
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PREVAILING CONDITIONS
Top Story
Gainsharing Travel Savings– Save Money on Travel and Earn a Little Extra Cash for Yourself
(January 10, 2012) The NWSEO and NWS signed a clarification of Article 23 Section 5 of the contract, spelling out members’ liabilities when flying with non-refundable airline tickets. The NWSEO encourages all NWS employees to utilize lower cost non-refundable airfares when that makes sense. This saves money for your local office's travel budget and makes you eligible for a Gainsharing award equal to 50 percent of those savings. (More)
Nextgov - Technology and the Business of Government
(Jan. 9, 2012) The Great Gov Apps Debate Hits NOAA
National Weather Service Health Club and Wellness Services Fees Reimbursement Program
(January 6, 2012) The NWSEO negotiated National Weather Service Health Club and Wellness Services Fees Reimbursement Program has made it easier to keep your health club costs low. Through the program, open to all NWS employees, you may receive up to $300 per year as a health club membership dues rebate. The rebate also covers certain weight loss and smoking cessation programs. (More)
Form A must be submitted between January 1, 2012 and February 29, 2012 to receive benefits for 2012.
Form B must be submitted between January 1, 2012 and February 29, 2012 for reimbursement for the year 2011.
Politico
(Jan. 5, 2012) Rick Santorum's campaign could be clouded by 7-year-old attack on National Weather Service
Dr. Lubchenco Responds to NWSEO Letter –
Promises Policy on Weather Warning Apps
(January 5, 2012) Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, will meet with NWSEO President Dan Sobien and Executive Vice President Bill Hopkins to discuss innovation and the development of mobile weather warning apps. The invitation came in response to a letter Sobien sent to Dr. Lubchenco late last month disapproving NWS leadership’s decision to halt the use of resources to develop weather warning applications for wireless devices. (More)
Temporary Promotions
(December 30, 2011) With the huge increase in time that positions are remaining vacant in the NWS, we want to make sure everyone is getting the temporary promotions they deserve. If you have a vacancy that meets the criteria below, please let your Regional Chair know as soon as you can:
- You have a vacancy (not extended leave) for a Bargaining Unit position in the office and;
- Management has someone doing the work of that vacant position and;
- There is a qualified person on staff (qualified means at least one year in grade at the lower position and all of the educational needs skills etc. to do the job).
The name and contact information of your Regional Chair is located in the NWSEO
Directory at http://www.nwseo.org/Directory/dir_index.php
NWSEO President’s Letter to Dr. Lubchenco: Order to
Stop Weather App Development in Direct Conflict with
Lubchenco’s Directive to Create Innovative Communications
(December 29, 2011) NWSEO President Dan Sobien sent a letter to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, asking her to rescind the directive to stop development of weather warning apps because is in direct conflict with Dr. Lubchenco’s October directive to “produce significant innovative communications projects.” President Sobien’s letter is available here.
(More on this article)
Management Issues
Management Issues
(December 8, 2011) NWSEO often tackles problems repeatedly from the same managers. Now, an updated color-coded branch list can be used to identify and inform members of potential problem managers. While circumstances may change over time, the current list highlights areas to warn members of the possible implications to their career and morale if they bid on these offices.
Labor Management Forum
The Department of Commerce Labor Management Forum |