| joeymartin@nteuchapter116.org | Chapter President |
| rudydibene@nteuchapter116.org | Chapter Vice President |
| ivangonzalez@nteuchapter116.org | Chapter Secretary |
| joedibene@nteuchapter116.org | Chapter Treasurer |
Join NTEU Chapter 116- Arizona
Click the following link, print the form, (SF 1187) fill out the information and turn it in to your local steward or mail to NTEU, 1909 W. 19th. ST. Yuma, Arizona 85364. You will then have a voice because you made the right choice!
SF 1187- http://www.cbpunion.org/Documents/SF1187CMK.pdf
The case of Officer 1- synopsis: Removed from position by management. NTEU Chapter 116 invoked arbitration. Case was heard in Yuma, Arizona and the final disposition was full recission of adverse action. This means back pay with interest and made whole as an officer. Mr. Officer 1 is to return to full duty as the arbitrator found that management failed to prove its case. NTEU attorney Ben Phillips represented Officer 1. Huge victory for us!!!
Case of Officer 2- synopsis: Removed from position by management. NTEU Chapter 116 invoked arbitration and the case was heard in San Luis, Arizona. After it was all said and done the arbitrator ordered that Officer 2 be returned to full duty with back pay. NTEU attorney Ben Phillips represented Officer 2. Another big victory for us and Ben Phillips.
Case of Officer 3- synopsis: Management suspended Officer 3 without pay for 30 days. NTEU Chapter 116 invoked arbitration and the case was heard in San Luis, Arizona. This case is currently pending outcome and as soon as we get a decision we will be sure to post it, so keep checking back! UPDATE: Unfortunately, the arbitrator found for the Service by sustaining the 30 day suspension.
Case of Officer 4- synopsis: Management has proposed to fire a CBP Officer and we have presented our case. A plea is on the table to not fire the officer! Minor details being worked out for final outcome. Update: Although the Union recommend that the officer take the offer, the officer has decided to decline it.
Case of Officer 5- synopsis: Management proposing disciplinary action on an officer that forwarded a chain letter on the government email system. Two more similar cases around the ports. UPDATE: Management proposed a letter of reprimand/counseling and the Union will not oppose this action as we feel that this is an appropriate action.
Case of Officer 6- synopsis: Management has proposed to fire a CBP Officer decision from the DRB (disciplinary review board), we are currently in talks with management for mitigation factors.
UPDATE: Management came back with a different proposal, but the officer rejected their new offer with our recommendation.
Case of Officer 7- synopsis: Management has proposed to suspend an officer for 30 days without pay for allegedly allowing an alien to escape. Ironically, at this same port (Nogales) supervisor V, who by the way is a certified defensive tactic instructor had an alien escape from custody and make it back to Mexico. Excused used was that the alien had long sleeves!! Or maybe he did not have wrists???? Hmmmm.....Wondering if upper management will be uniformed in laying out disciplinary action against one of their own. If past history is an indication, we will not be holding our breath. Union has reserved it's right to an oral and written reply. Oral reply presented in Tucson, Arizona and we are currently awaiting the DFO's decision. We are currently prepared to invoke arbitration in this case.
Case of Officer 8- synopsis: Management has proposed to fire an officer for sending an email from his home computer to a government computer. We are currently negotiating with management. Update: after presenting our case the officer's proposed removal from Service was taken off the table and the officer was served with a letter of counsel.
POSSIBLE GRIEVANCES AND UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES (updated 08/05/09)
Currently looking into filing a grievance on management at the Nogales, Arizona Port of Entry on the Bid and Rotation that was recently done. UPDATE: Grievance has been filed and will become a national issue. (not surprising coming from Nogales). Management has advised that they will meet our demands. We asked that it be put in writing and are currently awaiting. Contacted LER again, since Nogales management is refusing to make the changes, or maybe they are just slow.
It is possible that an unfair labor practice (ULP) will be filed against management at the Lukeville, Arizona Port of Entry with issues having to deal with the local NTEU Chapter 116 Union Board. Items posted by Union representatives is believed to have been removed by members of management since they are the only ones that were apparently offended when the Chapter won an arbitration and then posted the victory.
A grievance has been filed in Lukeville for creating a midnight shift when the port is closed during those hours. The AWS was affected and management failed to bargain with the Union. The National has been advised and this will be taken to arbitration.
An unfair labor practice is going to be filed against LER Tucson for failing to release information under the Freedom of Information Act on behalf of an officer from the Douglas Port of Entry.
NTEU continues to lobby to end the "One Face at the Border" experiment. It is unlikely, however, that CBPO occupation will be split back to separate Customs and Immigration agencies or to Border Patrol, but we are making progress on reintroducing specializations within the CBPO occupation at CBP.
Also, it has pretty much been kept hush, hush, but CBPO's have been approved to be upgraded to GS-12 journeyman level. The problem is that funding was not provided in order for this to kick in. All port directors are aware of this, but were told to keep it on the download until such time the funding could be provided. As it stands right now, CBP is in the red close to 120 million dollars and have been tasked with getting out of the red. They have slashed overtime and have been ordered to slash 20% of spending without giving up any benefits.
Management at the local level is pretty much pulling their hair and I can't say I don't blame them. The main reason that we are in the red is because user fees are extremely down, which is what funds our overtime budget. All this is indicative of our current economic crisis. The attitude at headquarters is to give the order to do something and not wanting to hear that it can not be done. All you have to do is look around an look at the officer's faces and body language. We are exhausted, burnt out and on the brink of explosion by being short tempered. Folks enjoy the little bit of time off that we have and take that deep breath before you do or say something that can ultimately damage your career.
.
