The Foreign Service Journal, March 2007

MA R CH 2 0 0 7 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 71 A F S A N E W S Y E A R I N R E V I E W AUGUST AFSA agrees to several changes to Foreign Service assignment rules and procedures, but does not agree to the DG’s proposal to scale back the 6/8 year rule for service in Washington, D.C. Labor-Management finally resolves a griev- ance dating from 1995 concerning payment of overtime to an information management specialist who is now retired. Strategizing to assist passage of H.R. 6060 to modernize the Foreign Service pay system is the focus of frequent meetings between AFSA and department officials in both August and September. Though ultimately the bill is not passed by the 109th Congress, these meetings establish a valuable collaborative tool for use in the 110th Congress. AFSA/USAID successfully negotiates with USAIDmanagement to revamp the agency’s recruitment programs, creating a new junior officer program that retains the positive aspects of the previous mechanism but streamlines all processes in favor of appli- cants. Fall semester need-based AFSA Financial Aid Scholarships totaling $62,500 are bestowed on 53 undergraduates. The Journal hires Andrew Kidd as its new Business Manager, replacing Mikkela Thompson— the first staff change in over four years. AFSA/FAS meets with management to discuss the potential outcome of the current agency reorganization. SEPTEMBER Labor-Management writes several times con- cerning individuals affected by disruptions and delays in the production of personnel actions and travel orders, and subsequently meets with the director of the Assignments Division on measures to cut the backlog. AFSA writes to the DG concerning contact- reporting requirements, and the confusion caused by having two different FAM sections with different instructions. The department is at last convening a working group to resolve this decade-old problem. AFSA/Elderhostel offers three weeklong pro- grams inWashington, D.C. Themes include the Middle East, U.S. diplomacy and a brand-new presentation on China and its neighbors. Speakers include Ambassadors Marc Grossman, Beth Jones and JohnW. Limbert. AFSA/USAID settles one of three financial grievances for mission directors. A combined total of $20,000 is restored to these employees, after the funds were improperly withheld as punishment. AFSA arranges for Ambassador Marc Grossman to keynote the George Mason University’s “Learning in Retirement” series on American diplomacy. A new FSJ department, “In Response,” debuts, giving representatives of offices in the State Department and other foreign affairs agencies a forum for replying to critical articles. Amb. Holmes travels to Prague to participate in the 2006 European Bureau entry-level employee conference. AFSA/USAID negotiates a settlement for an employee who is allowed to retire on a med- ical disability rather than be separated for cause. OCTOBER Over 3,400 State Department members worldwide respond to an AFSA survey, ensur- ing that AFSA is up to date on employee con- cerns and priorities. AFSA files an institutional grievance over the assignment of a mid-level Civil Service employee to a Senior Foreign Service position as director of the public diplomacy hub in Brussels. Amb. Holmes follows the grievance filing with a letter to Sec. Rice protesting assignment system abuse. The case is later resolved with a curtailment of the assignment and agreement to institutionalize the changes to protect the system. The Labor-Management team holds several meetings to negotiate and subsequently agree on changes in the precepts to allow the Broadcasting Board of Governors to hold promotion and performance pay boards for their Senior Foreign Service. AFSA suggests measures to enhance the “DS Fitness Program.” DS agrees to implement many of the sug¡gestions, and AFSA and DS representatives meet at the DS Training Center to discuss details. Labor-Management holds a brown-bag lunch meeting with career development officers in the entry-level division to discuss assignments and, in particular, the cases of several officers who entered under the Critical-Needs Language program. In a case involving separation for cause, AFSA/USAID negotiates a resolution short of the management-proposed action. The employee is able to stay on the rolls until pen- sion eligibility begins. AFSA/USAID resolves a grievance at the agency level involving an improper board review. USAID grants most of the requested remedies. The AFSA Scholarship Fund receives a $157,905 bequest from the BrockmanM. Moore Charitable Reminder Trust to be added to his late wife’s financial aid scholar- ship, now to be called the Marcia Martin and BrockmanM. Moore Memorial Scholarship. Amb. Holmes is interviewed by Business Week for “Diplomacy—ADreamCareer.” FSJ coverage of the state of public diplomacy after Karen Hughes’ first year as under secre- tary attracts media attention (including a story in the Washington Post ) and continues to gen- erate a lively correspondence extending into early 2007. The AFSA Governing Board holds a mini- retreat to discuss ideas for 2007. AFSA/FCS submits midterm bargaining pro- posals, including: a recommendation on Senior Foreign Service pay policy and reform, including access for AFSA/FCS to the so- called “technical briefings” of the board; a request that Commerce adhere to the letter and spirit of the FAMwith regard to Residential Transaction Allowance benefits; and a request that the Personnel Audit Reports be revised to better reflect where offi- cers actually are and what they are doing. AFSA Annual Report 2006