By this time, you may have already submitted the request for information that the NBPC published to the website on March 7, 2013. Some have questioned why the Union is not submitting one response to all of the proposed actions. This is due to the fact that every employee has a right to respond verbally and in writing to a proposed adverse action. As previously mentioned, a furlough is an adverse action and this is your opportunity to challenge the Agency's action and recommend alternatives to the proposal.
Therefore, the Union recommends that every employee exercise their right to respond to this proposed action. The right to respond also includes a right to request a reasonable amount of administrative time in order to review all of the materials, to consult with a Union representative, to develop the written response, and prepare for the oral response.
To aid in the process, the NBPC developed the Request for Information Template and published it to the website on March 7, 2013. Now, the NBPC has developed the Employee Response Template to be used to respond to the proposed action. Remember, the response must be submitted within ten days of receiving the proposed action. Below are the instructions, to include some of the prior instructions, to ensure everyone properly understands the process:
1. Identify a station Union representative/steward to represent you in this matter;
2. Request administrative time wtih your supervisor to review the proposal notice, to review the materials that the Agency provided with the notice, and to complete the applicable forms (G-956, request for information, and written reply) to this proposed action;
3. Download a copy of Form G-956 and complete the following: your name, the name of your station Union representative/steward, your signature, and the date.
4. Download the Request for Information Template. Fill in the reps name in the header after consulting with your representative on the other information in the header. Then, add the date; the name, and location of the deciding official; add your name to the "RE" line; add the deciding officials name to the opening line; complete the other information in the first paragraph; and add the rep's name to the signature line.
5. Make three copies of your G-956 and your request for information. Provide one to your Union representative/steward, save one for your records, and give one to the deciding official or your first line supervisor. Make sure you have your supervisor or the deciding official date stamp all three copies of the request for inforrmation.
6. Download the Employee Response Template and complete the following information: Union representative information in the header of the letter; location of the deciding official; the date that appears on the notice that you received, and your Union representative's name in the signature line at the end of the document.
7. Make three copies: one for you, your representative, and one for your representative/steward to deliver to the deciding official. Again, if possible, have the deciding official date stamp all three copies.
8. Then, discuss your oral response with your Union representative/steward so he or she can coordinate scheduling the oral response.
9. Make sure you contact your elected officials. Although the Union is meeting with key elected officials, many of them want to hear from their constituents and in many cases, question why they have not heard from you.
10. If you are having any trouble getting approved for official time contact an eboard member immediately.
