The Foreign Service Journal, March 2009

Labor Management A FSA’s four attorneys and two labor management specialists continued toprovide grievance andother assis- tance to our members at State, USAID, FCS, FAS and IBB. In 2008, we assisted approximately 250 individuals with griev- ances over such issues as lowranking, selec- tion out, denial of tenure and promotion, prejudicial performance appraisals, denial of allowances, discipline matters, etc. AFSA filed a class action grievance on behalf of 68 members of the Senior Foreign Service whom the department failed to compete for performance pay, in violationof the regulations. At press time, we are awaiting a decision from the For- eign Service Grievance Board. We assisted about a dozen employees whose security clearances had been sus- pendedor proposed for revoca- tion, aswell as scores of employ- ees who had been proposed for discipline for such things as security infractions, misuse of government vehicles and credit cards, violation of the depart- ment’s policy on consensual sexual relationships,misuseof the pouch, misuse of government credentials, driving under the influence, failure to followinstructions, lack of candor and workplace violence. AFSArepresentedanumberof employ- ees in meetings with the House Govern- ment Oversight Committee on matters relating toBlackwater aswell as other issues. We met with management at the var- ious agencies to negotiate or consult on a variety of regulations, including changes to the promotionandassignment precepts, theDiplomatic Security Bureau’s new fit- ness-for-duty regulations, security clearance revocation regulations and contact report- ing requirements. Finally, we helpedhundreds of employ- ees with questions and/or problems regarding retirement benefits, entry-level salaries, allowances, bidding rules, work- ers’ compensation,medical clearances and domestic partnership benefits. AFSA’s Richard S. Scissors Legal De- fense Fund continued to grow. Since its inception in 2007, employees and retirees have donated approximately $20,000. The Legal Defense Fund permits AFSA to retain private counsel in those cases that are of significant institutional impor- tance to the union and our members. In 2008, contributionswereused to try topre- serve an employee’s right to challenge his separation for cause before the Grievance Board after he was forced to resign from the State Department to work at another federal agency. The issue before the board waswhether the employee voluntarily quit and gave up his right to challenge his sep- arationorwas “constructively” discharged. The case was settled, but a confidentiality clause does not permit discussion of the terms. — Sharon Papp, General Counsel AFSA filed a class action grievance on behalf of 68 members of the Senior Foreign Service whom the department failed to compete for performance pay. MA R CH 2 0 0 9 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 55 A F S A N E W S AFSA Annual Report 2008 Y E A R I N R E V I E W AFSA Headquarters Renovation T hroughout 2008, theAFSAheadquarters at 2101EStreetNWunderwent a long- overdue renovation. This activity createdunique challenges for the professional staff, but service toourmembers and their inter- ests — our number-one priority — was never com- promised. It was the focus on this banner that allowed us to navigate creatively through the building renova- tion challenge. In 2009, staff will reoccupy the head- quarters. Wewelcome allmembers and friends to visit us then. — Ian Houston, Acting Executive Director Briefing the Next Administration A FSA’s transition planning began in summer 2008 with meetings with senior for- eign policy advisers to the two nominees for president. AFSA also played a key role in drafting and publicizing an October 2008 blue-ribbon panel report that urged the next president to hire more diplomats and development professionals. After the elec- tion, AFSA met with Obama transition teammembers at State, USAID, Commerce and IBB to explain the resource and management needs of the Foreign Service. We provid- ed supplementary written documentation to assist the teams in briefing the new agency leadership. Throughout the year, we educated lawmakers and the media to prepare the ground for the Obama administration’s budget requests for international engagement. — John Naland, AFSA President