From the President's Corner

Please read and understand those elements listed below as being a change in and to your life.

Remember,   your local union Afge 2718 is committed to transparency and we will strive even harder to keep you informed.

Things you should know...

On February 9, 2013 (Saturday)

Location Washington D.C.

Time: 0830hrs until 17:30

Topics: meeting of delegates and Council 119

The following information was covered during Council  119 meeting with delegates and Local AFGE Presidents.

Secretary/Treasurer: Angela Lopez has presented a budget to the floor that was previously rejected by local Presidents.

Subsequently, the budget was re-introduced as following:

Las Vegas...Original totals of the budget$216,086.
Accounts with Wells Fargo

Business checking account totaling $39,237
Money market totaling  $340,354

As of February 7, 2013 national budget totaling $409,259

For Council 119 financial recording. ..Software of choice QuickBook Pro 2012

December 2012, Two (2) locals voted for the budget and two voted two (2) not vote to pass the budget.

The delegates voted to change the budget and the details and results will be rolled out and sent to each local President.

The delegates voted for three (3) (Committee) Auditors to conduct an audit in Houston Texas...dates are TBD.


Legislative Conference: In short

2- year pay freeze & 2013 raise of 0.5% delayed to April. $88 billion

2.3% increase in employees' retirement contributions for post 2012 hires (part of  UI extension in February). Which scores as a tax increase on middle class.   $ 15 billion.

Sequester: Friday,  March 1, 2013.  Info you should know

Federal Employees are within the 26th month of a 27 month pay freeze, which saved the government $60 million.

Smaller retirement income for retires

Federal Employees should have received at least 2.2% salary adjustment in January 2013, with a 1.2% across the board and other 1% for locality adjustments.

President Obama has proposed ending the freeze with a 0.5%  raise in April 2013.

House Republicans has voted to extend the pay freeze for the remaining of calendar year 2013 for a full year and three year duration.

The 2.2% raise would not allow Federal Employees to recoup their losses from the freeze.

The pay freeze is political and against the guidance of the Department of Labor and Bureau of labor statistics...BLS  measures of  market comparability.

The House has again threaten to pass legislation that includes elements of the following from The Simpson-Bowles:

1). Changes to the formula for crediting years of service for FERS

2). Changes to the formula for calculating annuities from a "high 3" basis to a
       "high 5" basis.

3). Creating a two-tier retirement system, with large increases in the amount
       that current FERS employees would be required to pay for these reduced
       annuities and massive increases for new employees.

4). Reducing cost of living adjustments for FERS and CSRS  retires through the Chained CPI

5). Eliminate the FERS supplemental for early retirees.

6). Reducing the government's share of  FEHBP premiums for retirees, and

7). Raising the retirement age for Social Security.

* The trust funds of which federal retirement benefits are paid are fully funded.

* Federal employees hired after January 1, 2013 will pay 3. 1% of their salaries towards their retirement benefits, an increase imposed upon them to offset the cost of extending Unemployment Insurance in 2012.

*Forcing federal employees to pay more for either small or the same pension is a selective tax increase.