The Foreign Service Journal, March 2011

M A R C H 2 0 1 1 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 35 T here is something very satisfying about end- ing one year and starting the next. We like to imagine the new year brimming with many rosy things, while we discard the old year like recycled newspaper. In the loom- ing dark days of flat pay, more work and fewer resources, however, we might be looking back at 2010 as the good old days. To review 2010 in short, blunt words: the AFSA/FAS contract renegotiations have stalled, and we’ve reached a new Washington Placement Plan agreement for 2011- 2013. FAS/Washington has been slightly reorganized, and many key officials have changed — among them the deputy under secretary, administrator, associate adminis- trator and many deputy administrators. There’s a contin- uing lack of attention to the FAS Human Capital Strategy, particularly for the Foreign Service. Several new initia- tives remain undefined, including Labor-Management Fo- rums and Cultural Transformation. With apologies to “Star Trek,” our mission in 2011 will be to boldly justify everything we do to a very skeptical U.S. public and eager-to-cut Congress. Our talking point will have to be, “FAS boosts agricultural exports, which generates U.S. jobs.” We do much more than that, of course, but efforts to improve global food security, etc., are weak tea. Live long and prosper. ANNUAL REPORT American Foreign Service Association 2010 FAS: To Boldly Go and Justify ■ B Y H ENRY S CHMICK , AFSA FAS VP I t was a year of slow-burn frustration on finalizing the now-two-year-old agreement with the agency on foreign correspondent time-in-class/time-in- service, low-ranking and related issues. But at last, in the final days of the year, the agreement was completed, and I signed it on Jan. 20, 2011. The agreement makes the TIC/TIS freeze permanent for Voice of America foreign correspondents who were in service when the temporary freeze went into effect nearly 10 years ago. Also in 2010, IBB implemented retroactive Overseas Comparability Pay in the spring, putting our staff on par with other agencies; and the agency paid the second in- crement in the fall. We expect the third and final incre- ment in 2011, if Congress allows it to go forward. AFSA continued to participate in IBB’s labor-manage- ment committee, which has been a somewhat useful forum for various issues. The group shepherded the om- budsman posting and selection process, and is trying to work on other issues. But with only one meeting per month and continuing mistrust on both sides, progress has been slow. Finally, two new issues came up late in the year. VOA News is creating overseas editing GS positions. AFSA is working with management to try to get those changed to Foreign Service so all can compete. In addition, the IBB Technology Strategic Plan (http://inside.bbg.gov/offices/ tsi/default.aspx), issued on Dec. 8, contains some poten- tially worrisome passages on privatizing the Thailand relay stations and planning for the “sunsetting” of shortwave broadcasts. AFSA staff and I are looking into the impli- cations of that for our constituents. As always, I stand ready to help with individual or group concerns. Please contact me at apessin@voanews.com . International Broadcasting Bureau: New Year, New Agreement ■ B Y A L P ESSIN , AFSA IBB B OARD R EP Foreign Agricultural Service Attache Holly Higgins with villagers in Lucknow, India. Courtesy of Holly Higgins