News
AMENDMENT PASSES, ESP POST FILLED
FEA members have voted to amend the Association's Constitution, creating and filling the post of Education Support Professional (ESP) Coordinator on the FEA Board of Directors. Teresa Brown, an ESP member at Camp Lejeune, was elected to fill the ESP Coordinator post. Her term begins May 1, 2021. The full election report can be found… 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
REPAYMENT OF DEFERRED 2020 SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES
Social Security taxes that were deferred from federal employees' pay over the last third of 2020 will now be collected in installments between pay periods ending January 16 and December 4, 2021. For employees who separate or retire prior to the deferred 2020 Social Security tax being collected in full, the unpaid balance will either… Read More
DFAS NOTICE ON COLLECTION OF DEFERRED SOCIAL SECURITY TAXES
The following information related to collection of deferred Social Security taxes was released December 18 by DFAS. Please read below to find information about your situation and consult with a tax/finance professional if you need guidance on how this announcement will impact your pay. At the end of December, the 2020 Social Security tax deferral… Read More
OVERSEAS BARGAINING UPDATE #11
December 17, 2020 As we head into the winter break, the outcome of negotiations on a new Overseas contract remains up in the air. Following 30 days of renegotiations, which began after FEA Overseas members overwhelmingly voted in October to reject the tentative agreement, the two sides remain divided on many contract issues. DoDEA is… Read More
INTERESTED IN SERVING AS FEA HCR Coordinator?
The current FEA State Human and Civil Rights (HCR) Coordinator has indicated she will be stepping down from her position. Under the FEA Constitution, the FEA Board of Directors is tasked with appointing a replacement to complete the current term for the HCR Coordinator, which will end on August 1, 2022. Any FEA Active member… Read More
OVERSEAS BARGAINING UPDATE #10
November 24, 2020 FEA and DoDEA recently completed 30 days of renegotiations on a successor Overseas contract but the two sides remain at impasse on a number of issues, including DoDEA's efforts to lengthen the duty day. The FEA members who comprise our bargaining team again did a fantastic job articulating the priorities and concerns… Read More
OVERSEAS CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS RESUME
October 29, 2020 Following the rejection of the tentative agreement by the members of our Overseas Bargaining Unit, an additional 30 days of bargaining is now underway, as dictated by the bargaining ground rules for the Overseas contract. Over 98 percent of those who voted rejected the tentative agreement. At this point, there are no… Read More
OVERSEAS MEMBERS REJECT DODEA’S PROPOSED TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
October 20, 2020 FEA members have overwhelmingly rejected DoDEA's proposed tentative agreement for the Overseas bargaining unit. Of the Overseas members who participated in the vote on ratification, 98.4% voted "No" on DoDEA's proposed tentative agreement. FEA has informed DoDEA of our members' rejection of management's proposed Overseas tentative agreement and has proposed that negotiations… Read More