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 would not be reimbursed for those tickets. Subsequently, FEA filed Association Grievance 17-04 to deal with this issue on behalf of all DODDS Educators in the FEA bargaining unit.
We have learned that educators who exercised/used RAT and submitted requests for reimbursement have been reimbursed, regardless of when the tickets were purchased.
Steps to be taken by all DODDS Educators in the FEA Bargaining Unit
Upon return from RAT, educators will need to submit their requests for RAT reimbursement ASAP. In light of the above-mentioned development, the Association hopes that RAT will be reimbursed REGARDLESS of when the tickets were purchased.
If your requests for RAT reimbursement are denied due to the timing of your purchase, please notify/contact the Association at fealegal@nea.org.
Association Grievance 17-04 remains on active status in case we need to litigate the issue.