The Foreign Service Journal, September 2016

Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA FCS VP. Contact: steve.morrison@trade.gov or (202) 482-9088 FCS VP VOICE | BY STEVE MORRISON AFSA NEWS The Golden Rule: Paradox or Words to Live By? Which is the real Golden Rule—“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” or “Whoever has the gold makes the rules”? In the case of the Com- mercial Service–Global Mar- kets and our parent agency, the International Trade Administration, it would seem the latter is much closer to the truth. As you may know, AFSA wrote to FCS manage- ment on May 20, objecting to wasteful spending and egregious cuts to mandatory officer training. Of particular concern was questionable headquarters travel; who travels where, why, and who they get to bring with them (for example, does an under or assistant secretary really need three or four assistants when traveling—without firms— overseas?). This wasteful spending continued even as management was cutting post payroll, as well as train- ing and local travel budgets. A key concern for AFSA was to ensure the Commercial Service’s ability to effectively train its existing, on-board FSOs. Thankfully, funds for officer language training were restored, thus avoiding a situation in which CS officers cannot compete against their peers and our effectiveness overseas is limited. Language training, in particular, is essential to help FSOs build rapport with contacts in the host country, engage with the culture and connect with host govern- ment officials, all of which are crucial to our mission. What else did AFSA’s protestations produce? A lot of worried faces, but no end to questionable and duplica- tive headquarters travel. Is it any wonder that officers are beginning to question whether in the newly consolidated ITA, “the meeting is the metric”? One thing we have learned is that while the budget for the CS–GM has gone up 25 percent overall in the past 10 years ($261 million to roughly $325 million today), ITA Centralized Services charges—the cost for CS– GM to be a part of ITA and the Commerce Department —have gone up 167 percent (from $18.9 million in 2006 to $50 million today). Again, is it any wonder that we are seeing such an increased concentration of spending—and travel—here at the Commerce Depart- ment while the field suffers and declines? So, when management or leadership implores the field to tighten their belt, do more with less or dare to be differ- ent, remember the Golden Rule. If there is little or no desire to reduce—or hold the line on—headquarters spending or travel, why not cut the field? n A key concern for AFSA was to ensure the Commercial Service’s ability to effectively train its existing, on-board FSOs. THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2016 61 LONG TERM CARE PREMI UM H I KES Recent news about large rate increases for Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program has our members, and employees and retirees across the U.S. government, very concerned. AFSA has sent a letter to the relevant House and Senate Committees, urging them to hold hearings on this issue and is also working with other unions that repre- sent federal workers to coordinate advocacy at the agency and congressional levels. Meanwhile, FLTCIP enrollees should receive a 2016 Enrollee Decision Period packet of personalized options: (1) maintaining current coverage with premium increase (default if no action taken); (2) reducing coverage to maintain current pre- mium; and, (3) various mixes of the first two. A fourth option (offered to some) caps benefits at the policy’s value while stopping premiums. The deadline to decide is Sept. 30. Enrollees should contact LTC Partners (www. LTCFEDS.com , or call 1-800-582-3337) to explore options. Members should note that these increases parallel what has been happening in private markets. The industry is experiencing real turbulence; many companies have stopped LTC coverage, and John Hancock is the only carrier still bidding on the FLTCIP business. That business will remain fragile until insurers get the actuarial realities right and interest rates increase. See the August AFSA Newsletter (www.afsa.org/retiree-newsletters) for more information, and look for Retiree VP Tom Boyatt’s special report in the October FSJ . n —Janet Hedrick, Member Services Director NEWS BRIEF