The Director General has presented AFSA with two proposals for additional changes in the Foreign Service assignment system at the Department of State.  In a telegram being transmitted today, the DG presents his thinking on the need for these changes and his arguments in favor of them.  We at AFSA share the DG's belief that it important for the members of the Foreign Service to continue to volunteer for all of the hardship and danger-pay positions that must be filled overseas, but we have a somewhat different perspective on these new DG proposals.  

These proposed changes, coming on top of  the far-reaching modifications to assignment rules that the Department implemented last August, would further tighten the limitations on domestic service and would increase the number of employees subject to Fair Share bidding requirements.  They would have a long-term impact on the Foreign Service career.

Over the past six months,active-duty  members worldwide have made it clear to AFSA that they want to be consulted on such proposed changes, which directly affect their ability to manage their careers.  While most members have expressed support for greater enforcement of Fair Share rules and limitations on domestic service, a strong majority attached tremendous importance to the principle of fairness -- and to preserving flexibility and family-friendliness in the Foreign Service.  We believe these new proposals would have an undeniable impact on these principles.  We are therefore seeking your feedback, which will help the AFSA Governing Board decided how to respond to the Director General.

LIMITS ON DOMESTIC SERVICE
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The DG proposes to replace the current 6/8-Year Rule for domestic service with a 5/8-Year Rule.  This would mean that State Foreign Service members could only serve a maximum of five consecutive years domestically, and would then need to seek a waiver to remain beyond five years.  Approval for such waivers would be a discretionary decision by HR.  The DG's proposal would narrow the criteria for approval of such waivers, such as by removing the current standard practice of allowing waivers for employees with a teenager finishing his/her senior year of high school.  In practical terms, for most people, this would mean a maximum of four consecutive years in Washington; i.e., two normal two-year assignments.  No "grandfathering" provision for those already assigned domestically has been offered.

The immediate numerical impact would be marginal: in response to AFSA's question, HR has indicated that this change would make just over 200 additional State Foreign Service members (out of 11,000+) subject to waivers in the next assignment cycle if they wish to remain domestic.

RETROACTIVE CHANGES TO FAIR SHARE
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Last August, with AFSA's concurrence, the DG changed the Fair Share bidding rules to require for Fair Share purposes only bids on positions at posts with a 15% or higher differential.  This year, he is proposing to apply this definition of Fair Share RETROACTIVELY.  This would mean any State Foreign Service member who has not served 18 months at a post with a 15% or higher differential in the past eight years would be considered a Fair Share bidder.  For example, FS members who had completed assignments at 5% or 10% posts in the past few years, expecting in good faith that this service fulfilled their hardship service requirement for eight years, would now find themselves Fair Share candidates.  This would be a retroactive redefinition of the Fair Share Rules, with no "grandfathering" provision.

Please click on the survey link below to provide any comments that you wish to make regarding this Department proposal and your thoughts on how AFSA should respond.  We believe these are negotiable issues concerning conditions of work for our members; therefore AFSA's reaction will help determine whether these proposals are implemented, rejected, or modified.

http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB2268ZV96EC4

Thank you!!

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