Federal Daily - July 16, 2009

Agencies Consider Creation of New ‘Work-Life’ Fed Campus

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on July 14 announced that it was discussing with three agencies the creation of a combined work-life “campus” which could offer employees from different departments amenities like a centralized child-care facility and a campus garden. OPM Director John Berry met with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, General Services Administration (GSA) acting Administrator Paul F. Prouty and officials from the Federal Reserve Board to discuss ways to create a model campus with enhanced workplace services. As a first step, the four agencies are evaluating what they can do to improve the federal workplace and are assessing their wellness programs, telework policies and the potential for sharing facilities. The four agencies employ about 6,000 and are located in close proximity in northwest Washington, D.C., within walking distance of the White House. Prouty, who has been in discussion with OPM for several months, said he favored the creation of a model campus because it fits well with other GSA-led government-wide efforts such as green energy and conservation. “This effort demonstrates how we can do more with less,” said Berry. “By combining our efforts, we can more adequately and economically address the issues of wellness and employee satisfaction than we could with an agency-by-agency approach.” To see more, go to: www.opm.gov/news/four-federal-agencies-combine-forces-to-create-a-model-federal-worklife-campus,1469.aspx.

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Lieberman Bill Would Grow the Army by 30,000 Soldiers 

Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., on July 14 introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would increase the number of active-duty soldiers by 30,000 by next year. The bill, S. 1033, is pending before the Senate Committee on Armed Services and would authorize appropriations for FY 2010 for military activities of DoD as well as set military personnel strengths for next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. In February, the Army’s active-duty strength reached the goal of 547,400 soldiers that Congress set in the “Grow the Force Initiative” three years ago, according to Lieberman. Versions of the NDAA pending in the House and Senate both authorize DoD to temporarily increase the Army’s active-duty end strength by an additional 30,000 for FY 2011 and FY 2012. However, Lieberman’s amendment would provide this same authority for FY 2010. “Our Army is facing a period of tremendous stress,” said Lieberman. “The total number of deployed soldiers will increase as more troops are leaving for Afghanistan before a large number return from Iraq,” Lieberman said. “Authorizing additional personnel is a critical first step.” Lieberman is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. To see more, go to: http://lieberman.senate.gov/newsroom/release.cfm?id=315748&&/

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APWU Initiates Outreach to Fight Consolidations, Closings

The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) has initiated an outreach effort to enlist support from congressional and local officials to oppose facility consolidations and closings being considered by the U.S Postal Service (USPS). In a July 14 Web posting, APWU President William Burrus said the union was preparing to fight the new round of closings the Postal Service has suggested as it attempts to adjust to a staggering decline in mail volume. USPS has added a number of postal facilities slated for consolidation or for Area Mail Processing studies to evaluate them as potential targets for consolidation, Burrus said. These include the Staten Island, N.Y., facility, which is to be consolidated with the facility in Brooklyn. Burrus noted that such outreach efforts have been successful in the past. The union president also reiterated APWU’s opposition to USPS plans to close underperforming stations and branches. Under the current labor contract, the Postal Service is obligated to retain all retail branches, Burrus said. He pointed out that the contract’s “Memorandum of Understanding on Retail Operations” says that “all existing retail operations will remain within the installation of which they are a part.” To see more, go to: http://apwu.org/news/burrus/2009/update08-2009-090714.htm.

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