Legal Updates
RESTRICTION OF MOVEMENT REIMBURSEMENT
Association action has led to a renewed chance at reimbursement of expenses incurred as a result of some members being required to quarantine themselves in hotel rooms following RAT travel last year. Employees who were in ROM (Restriction of Movement) during their return to PDS at a hotel during their summer 2020 RAT period and… Read More
RAT GRIEVANCE FILED
An Association Grievance over the issue of delayed Renewal Agreement Travel (RAT) from summer 2020 is progressing. At issue is whether Overseas employees on a two-year agreement who were eligible for RAT last summer but delayed their RAT due to numerous factors, including COVID and other travel restrictions, must begin a new two-year cycle if… Read More
HATCH ACT DO’S AND DON’TS
Advice for FEA Members on Political Activities and the Hatch Act The "Hatch Act" is the law that defines what Congress allows federal employees to do (or not to do) in regards to elections and political activities. The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) is the government agency that implements the regulations and enforces the Hatch… Read More
NO SALARY FREEZES IN 2019
GOOD NEWS FEA worked with NEA to make sure legislation recently passed by Congress and signed by the President would negate any possibility of a pay freeze for FEA members this year. The legislation funded the government through the remainder of the fiscal year and ended the threat of another partial government shutdown. An Executive… Read More
GSA GUIDANCE ON TAXES
TO: FEA Members Worldwide FROM: FEA Washington DC Office RE: Update on Taxes for Travel, Transportation and Relocation Expenses DATE: May 24, 2018 We wanted to update our members about the situation involving taxes on relocation and other travel expenses. Last week, the General Services Administration issued a memo (<a href="http: feaonline.org="" media="" issues="" ftr_bulletin_18_05_relocation_allowances_0.pdf"="" target="_blank">available here) offering additional… Read More
SHIPMENT OF 100 POUNDS UNACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE WITH RAT
To: FEA Leaders and Educators (For Immediate Distribution) From: FEA Legal Department Re: May 15, 2018 Legal Update: Shipment of 100 pounds of unaccompanied baggage in conjunction with RAT travel As stated in the May 15, 2018 President's Report, a number of members are reporting not being authorized the 100 pounds per person for shipment of unaccompanied baggage… Read More
TAXES ON ALLOWANCES/MOVING COSTS AND PROPOSED CUTS TO FEDS’ BENEFITS
TO: FEA Members Worldwide FROM: FEA Washington DC Office RE: Taxes on allowances and proposed cuts to feds benefits DATE: May 8, 2018 Below are updates on a pair of issues with hugely negative implications for federal workers, including FEA members. TAX ON ALLOWANCES/MOVING EXPENSES As you probably know by now, the tax plan passed by Congress and signed… Read More
Special Update Laurel Bay Spring Break Case
STATESIDE REGION Special Update Laurel Bay Spring Bay Case JANE LOGGINS - FEA Director for DDESS BEN HUNTER - FEA-SR General Counsel ANGELIA STUBBS - FEA-SR General Counsel In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew was forecast to hit South Carolina and a mandatory evacuation order was issued for MCAS Beaufort. Teachers at Laurel Bay were put on administrative… Read More
RAT REIMBURSEMENT
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM FEA WASHINGTON LEGAL OFFICE FROM: H.T. Nguyen, FEA Executive Director/General Counsel TO: DODDS Educators in the FEA Bargaining Unit RE: Reimbursement for RAT Travel (Association Grievance 17-04) Background In the Spring of 2017, DODDS announced that bargaining unit members who purchased tickets for RAT travel BEFORE receiving RAT Orders… Read More
REIMBURSEMENT FOR RAT TRAVEL
From: H.T. Nguyen, FEA Executive Director/General Counsel To: DoDDS Educators in the FEA Bargaining Unit Re: Reimbursement for RAT Travel Date: June 1, 2017 As you may be aware, management recently announced that it would be taking the position that if a bargaining unit member purchased tickets for RAT travel BEFORE the educator received his/her RAT orders, management would… Read More