February 16, 2012
NTEU Challenges CBP Distribution of Awards
NTEU has filed a grievance challenging CBP's implementation of the Joint Awards Committee (JAC) article of the NTEU-CBP contract—and it includes a long list of ways the agency has allegedly violated its agreement at locations nationwide.
The union's grievance charges CBP with improperly lowering awards shares and overall awards. NTEU is also arguing that the agency failed to dedicate 1 percent of the bargaining unit salary to awards and to ensure that at least 85 percent of the awards pool would be available for distribution by JACs.
The NTEU-negotiated awards process allows for joint management-union committees and for employees to self-nominate, which promotes transparency and helps to ensure that employee performance is rewarded based upon merit, not personal favoritism.
NTEU's Views Reflected in New Canine Officer Test
CBP has incorporated NTEU's views in a new multiple choice test for CBP Canine Officers taking the Concealed Human Narcotics Detection Course. NTEU filed an earlier grievance challenging CBP's unilateral implementation of the new testing requirement, arguing that any new test must objectively measure a student's knowledge.
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White House Releases Budget Proposal
The White House released a fiscal 2013 budget proposal on Monday that includes $11.9 billion for CBP, a slight increase over the fiscal 2012 estimated level.
This figure includes $9 billion in budget authority for CBP salary expenses, but does not provide for the hiring of additional Officers.
As the fiscal 2013 appropriations process begins, NTEU will make the case for increased staffing to ensure this critical agency can meet its national security mission.
Agriculture Specialists to Get Defensive Tactics Training
At NTEU's request, Agriculture Specialists will now be offered defensive tactics training to learn how to protect themselves against violent empty-handed assaults. Local Intermediate Force Instructors will provide the training, which will include 16 hours of basic defensive tactics. At this point, CBP is investigating whether or not the training will have a voluntary OC spray component.
Under an agreement NTEU reached, attendance at the lecture portion of the defensive tactics training will be mandatory for Agriculture Specialists, but the physical exercise portion will be optional.
Last year, NTEU provided CBP with pre-decisional input that Agriculture Specialists should have the chance to take defensive tactics training and the agency agreed.
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