THANKS!  First, Steve and I wanted to thank you all for reelecting us to our AFSA posts.  This is obviously a critical time for our organization and we are determined to do our best to promote and defend FCS as we move through the many wickets of this tricky course. 

• TRADE REORGANIZATION:  Appended below are two articles on the trade reorganization of the USG which is perhaps the most important issues for our future.  We are told that the proposals were presented to the President this week.  We met with the reorg. team three times, but have not been give the chance to discuss any of their conclusions.  I was told they do not expect to go public until after next week, but that they will consult with us and other stakeholders about the implementation of the President’s decision.   It should be interesting to say the least.  The proposals will be only the beginning of the process and we will have to decide how best to weigh-in on that process.
• BUDGET/HILL:  Is very grim these days.  I have been working the Hill for more than 2 years now and have had dozens of meetings.  Almost everyone is appreciative of the importance of our work and sympathetic to our cause.  But the hard rule is that cuts are required for everyone and the guideline will be to start with the 2008 budget and go from there.  We have made the argument that our work narrows the deficit by increasing revenue and strengthening the economy, and it resonates but only so far.  We have missed the window for the NEI and, though the President still supports this substantial additional funding for us, there is no reasonable expectation that the Congress will approve it.  We also have a substantial shortfall for funding for what is left of this fiscal year.  Although this funding is critical, even dire, I believe that it would be very difficult if not impossible for management to implement any furlough or RIF (this later extremely unlikely) and we have been clear to management that we would oppose any such effort.  Nevertheless, as you should all know, there are plans to close posts (we hear they went to OMB this week), but even those are becoming problematic as each one gets knocked down and changed and the budget savings this year rapidly become negligible with Oct. 1 fast approaching.  The one slim hope for CS to obtain some of the NEI funding is for the leadership of Commerce to ask for specific funding exception to the budget rules and provide prioritization on how that would be accomplished.  But are we a priority?  I am seeking to find out that answer from Commerce management.
• 7-YEAR RULE:  After years of trying, we have finally reached an agreement with management on changes to the 7-year rule.  The agreement would change the 7-year requirement to one that has to be done for new officers before you can be promoted to the FS-1 level.  This kind of “expertise” requirement parallels programs that Secretary Powell put in place for State many years ago.  It will allow us to be more flexible in working with management and officer needs and careers.  We also pushed for and gained agreement that the domestic tour could be limited to one year and that officers would be elgible to bid immediately.  Management will still plan to assign a new officer within the first or second tour.
• MID-TERM BARGAINING:  Let me know what your concerns are.  Soon we will have to propose 3 new issues for mid-term bargaining, so I am eager to hear your suggestions.  The 7-year rule was one we proposed for several years and we finally got it done!

Thanks again for your votes – but more of you need to vote next time!  And make sure you are members of AFSA; we need your support in order to defend our benefits, jobs and programs; otherwise you got no one to blame for yourself.

"Reorganization Plan Sent to President" by Jason Miller of Federal News Radio

"Obama Government Reorganization Plan Nearing Release" by Charles S. Clark of Government Executive