AFSA
FAS Vice President Update: February 2005
USAA: Good news! USAA is now seriously revisiting the issue of membership eligibility for new FAS, FCS and USAID officers. This came about after AFSA sent Ted Wilkinson to the USAA annual meeting in Chicago, where he was given significant face time in sidebar meetings to advocate our position. We are hopeful that USAA will come to the right conclusion regarding this important eligibility question. We'll keep you posted.
Update on SFS Pay-For-Performance Package: Management provided AFSA with a SFS pay-for-performance package for our review and concurrence. While this is a generous package that addresses many of the concerns raised by AFSA, there are still some concerns and issues that need to be resolved. We will continue to work constructively with FAA and HRD to explore creative options to address the remaining concerns with the ultimate objective of developing a fair and equitable pay package. Thanks to all of you who have provided input into this process.
2004 Results and 2005 Priorities: Attached is a list of results achieved by FAS AFSA in 2004 and a draft list of priorities for 2005. Please take a minute to review our priorities. As this is a member-driven organization, we need your input.
State Department Changes Criteria for Crossing the Threshold into the SFS: This year the State Department will begin requiring FSOs to serve in hardship posts overseas if they want to be considered for promotion to SFS. In addition, as part of an overall effort to ensure that officers with the capacity to lead people and change are being promoted, leadership and management training will also be required. USAID is in the process of revising their precepts to reflect the changes made at State. This may be an item to add to our list of potential interim bargaining topics, which will be sent out shortly for your review and comment.
Success Stories and the Performance Measurement and Management System: AFSA applauds FAS for trying to reinvigorate success stories in a systematic way. (See February 7 Notes to the Field.) In an era of diminished resources, this is an important initiative. As we all know, the Administration has made it clear that the budgetary process is going to favor those agencies that can show clear results. While reinvigorating success stories is a step in the right direction, we need to do more.
Most of you are aware that the Agency is putting a performance management and measurement system in place. While AFSA supports this initiative, the system developed to date is inadequate. In fact, under the current framework, FSOs in Washington will be expected to go through a dual appraisal process. The FS process will be used to determine promotions and the CS process will be used to determine the extent to which Washington-based FSO contribute to achieving Agency goals. A workable methodology for capturing the results achieved by our FSOs overseas has yet to be developed.
With the help of the AFSA management and leadership working group, we have developed a proposal (see attached powerpoint presentation) that builds on the work done to date and fully integrates all FSOs into the process. While this is an esoteric subject and most people's eyes glaze over when it is broached, please take a minute to review and comment on the attached.
Update on Security Clearances: Many of you expressed concern several months ago regarding the process for updating security clearances. In response to your concerns, AFSA coordinated with FAA and the Compliance Review Staff to help clarify and improve the process. An all employee memo addressing this subject is available on the FASTNET.
Don't Spend it All in One Place: The new pay raise for FO-1s and below went into effect on Sunday, January 9. The breakdown is 2.5% for COLA and 1.21% for those getting locality pay that live in the Washington, DC area. In a surprise turn of events, OPM announced that SFS officers would also receive a pay raise of 2.5%, which was made retroactive to January 9. Click on the following link for the new OPM FS pay scales for 2005: http://www.afsa.org/2005pay.cfm
New Comp Time Rules: OPM has established interim rules governing comp time for official travel. However, FSOs are excluded. AFSA tried to amend the draft legislation to include the FS but failed. We intend to submit comments on the interim regulations but our chances are not good. Click here to learn more: http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=30460&printerfriendlyVers=1&
Pay for your AFSA Membership through Valuable Tax Savings: Once again, AFSA has published its annual Tax Guide for members in the February issue of the Foreign Service Journal. This guide to general federal and state tax provisions for Foreign Service employees is designed to be a reference tool and may save you from making costly mistakes on your tax returns. This valuable resource is now also available online at http://www.afsa.org/taxguide.cfm.
Click and Learn: The Administration just unveiled a new personnel system for the Department of Homeland Security that will dramatically change the way workers are paid, promoted, deployed and disciplined -- and soon the White House will ask Congress to grant all federal agencies similar authority to rewrite civil service rules governing their employees. To view the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39934-2005Jan26.html?referrer=emailarticle
Here is an article on pay-for-performance, outsourcing and budget battles ahead: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24839-2005Jan20.html
For more on efforts to achieve federal pay parity, click here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33981-2005Jan24.html/
Reminder: Every year, AFSA presents awards for both exemplary performance and constructive dissent. These awards are presented to dedicated Foreign Service Officers who have performed above and beyond the call of duty and have not been afraid to stand up for what they believe is right. Detailed information on nomination procedures can be found on our website, http://www.afsa.org/awards/index.cfm#nom. The website also has a hyperlink to articles about the 2004 Award winners, as well as a listing of all past award winners. The deadline for submitting nominations is February 25. Winners receive a cash prize of $2500, framed certificates signed by the president of AFSA, and are honored at a ceremony in late June in the Benjamin Franklin Diplomatic Reception Room at the State Department. We strongly encourage nominations from the FAS community, which have been sparse in the past.
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Interested in becoming a member? Click on the following link to obtain a payroll deduction form (SF1187) and fax the form to (202) 338-6820 or mail it to 2101 E St NW, Washington, DC 20037. http://www.afsa.org/mbr/index.cfm
