The Foreign Service Journal, March 2010

MA R CH 2 0 1 0 / F OR E I GN S E R V I C E J OU R N A L 57 AFSA Annual Report 2009 C O N S T I T U E N C Y S U M M A R I E S L ast year was a time of transition for AFSA, for the depart- ment and for our country. It began with the inauguration of a president committed to expanding the role of the Foreign Service inbothnational security andpolicy initiatives, and the nam- ingof anewSecretaryof Statewithamanagement philosophy favor- ing greater communicationwith, and support for, the peoplewho performState’smany functions. Bothbrought anappreciable surge in Foreign Servicemorale, andwith it, high expectations for a revi- talized Foreign Service. AFSA was proactive in briefing Secretary of StateHillary RodhamClinton early andworkingwith the tran- sition team to share our members’ views. The outgoing administrationhad left a number of issues pend- ing, particularly with respect to Iraq and Afghanistan, somuch of the first half of the year was spent working with management on these issues: staffing of our embassies, offices andprovincial recon- struction teams; incentives for service at those posts that did not prejudice other members in promotions or assignments; depart- mental follow-through on linked assignments, training and treat- ment (both administrative andmedical) afforded to returnees; the safety of FSmembers at those posts; and the balance between pro- tecting employees’ well-being and allowing those employees the freedom necessary to perform their duties. During this period, AFSA continued to lobby heavily on issues related to funding and salaries, withparticular attention to the over- seas pay gap. The Foreign Relations Authorization Act for 2010 and2011, containing language enablingState toaddress this inequity, passed in June — culminating years of AFSA effort. New Initiatives June also brought the announcement by Secretary Clinton of a significant extension of benefits to same-sex partners of Foreign Service members, including status as Eligible Family Members and all benefits offered to EFMs, except pension and health-care beneficiary rights constrained by law. AFSA has worked for years with the organization Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies to support more equal treatment for same-sex partners of FS personnel. A newAFSAGoverning Board took office in July, with a clear mandate to increase communication anddialoguewithourmem- bers, to increase transparency inoperations and tobemore respon- sive to the full range of Foreign Service members. To facilitate that communication, AFSA revived the State Standing Committee and established advisory committees addressing issues of particular concern to large segments of our membership. The summer rotation cycle continued the transition, bringing new directors into nearly every office with which AFSA’s Labor Management team interacts. Most significant: the early August swearing-inof a dynamic and experienced front office in theBureau of Human Resources —Director General of the Foreign Service Ambassador Nancy Powell, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Steven Browning and Deputy Assistant Secretary Robert Man- zanares —brought deeper and broader management experience to those positions than we’ve seen in many years. A Range of Issues on the Table During this year of transition, AFSA’s State LaborManagement Office, in addition to constantly promoting greater fairness and transparency in assignment/promotionprocesses and disciplinary decisions, advanced the following issues: • Developingmaternity and paternity leave procedures that do not involve annual or sick leave. • Ensuring thatWashington assignments of untenured officers include opportunities todisplay all skills necessary toobtain tenure. • Improving coordinationof themany factors affecting the abil- ity of employeeswithdisabilities toperformat full potential, includ- ing timely placement of required accommodationmaterials, appro- priate consideration in the assignments process and equal access to career-enhancing positions. • Urging implementation of a Home Marketing Incentive Program to reduce employee losses due to the sale of a residence forced by a change in domestic assignments. • Increasing career mobility options for specialists, and pro- moting opportunities for specialist-to-generalist or generalist-to- specialist conversions that do not imply a loss of seniority. • Ensuring FS employees unimpeded access to AFSA when advice, counsel or representation might be required. • Weighing in on newMED policies regarding medical clear- ances, housingwhile inWashington, D.C. followingmedical evac- uation, payment of insurance deductibles anddistributionofH1N1 vaccines. • Promoting greater quality control of investigations, and com- pliancewithgovernmentwidenorms inadverse-action security clear- ance adjudications. • Addressing issues related to state or local residence, in-state tuition, housing loans and other issues where overseas service can be a negative factor. AFSA’s mission is to serve and represent the members of the Foreign Service. We urge you to weigh in with issues of impor- tance to you, and to join the State StandingCommittee or an advi- sory committee when you are posted to Washington. —Daniel M. Hirsch, State VP State Department: A Year of Transition