Federal Daily - August 26, 2009
USPS, Unions Announce Separation Bonus Plan
In what could save the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) $500 million next year, USPS is offering $15,000 bonuses to eligible employees who elect to retire or separate before the end of Fiscal Year 2009, the Postal Service announced Aug. 25. USPS negotiated the separation incentive plan with the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union as part of an effort to accelerate staffing reductions for employees represented by the unions. As many as 30,000 employees could take advantage of the incentive offer, USPS said. Advances in mail processing technology and the continuing recession have led the Postal Service to reduce hours in mail processing facilities, where the majority of employees eligible for the incentive work. Letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association were not extended the offer. Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding, eligible employees must notify USPS of their desire to retire, and take a voluntary early retirement package or voluntarily separate before Sept. 30. They also must have a final departure date on or before Nov. 30. The incentive will be paid in two installments: $10,000 to be paid during the first three months of Fiscal Year 2010 and a second $5,000 installment paid in October 2010. “This agreement achieves a longstanding objective of the APWU,” said union President William Burrus. “Excessing and work-hour cuts cause severe hardships for our members, so finding a way to make voluntary complement adjustments became an urgent matter.”
To see more, go to: www.apwu.org/news/webart/2009/09-099-retirement_incentive-090825.htm,
www.npmhu.org/Pubs/UPDATE/2009/up090801.asp or www.usps.com/news.
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GSA Releases FY 2010 Per Diem Rates
The General Services Administration (GSA) on Aug. 25 released the Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 per diem reimbursement rates for federal employee official travel. The FY 2010 continental United States (CONUS) per diem rate shows a slight increase in the maximum reimbursement rate compared to FY 2009: $116 vs. $109—a 6.4 percent hike. The CONUS lodging rate stayed at $70 per day while the meals and incidental rate increased from $39 a day in FY 2009 to $46 in FY 2010. The GSA bulletin updated rates for existing per diem localities, and added three new non-standard areas: Jefferson City (Cole County) and St. Robert (Pulaski County), Mo., and Middlebury (Addison County), Vt. The rates are effective Oct. 1, and apply to travel performed through Sept. 30, 2010. To see more, go to: www.gsa.gov/graphics/ogp/FTR_Per_Diem_Bulletin_10-1.pdf.
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VA Moves to Simplify PTSD Compensation Rules
The Department of Veterans (VA) on Aug. 25 issued a new proposed rule to make it easier for veterans seeking compensation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register, would reduce the evidence needed if the stressor claimed by a veteran is related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity. Under the proposed rule, VA would not require corroboration of a stressor related to fear of hostile military or terrorist activity if a VA psychiatrist or psychologist confirms that the stressful experience recalled by a veteran adequately supports a diagnosis of PTSD. Previously, claims adjudicators were required to corroborate that a non-combat vet actually experienced a stressor related to hostile military activity. The proposed rule “takes into consideration the current scientific research studies relating PTSD to exposure to hostile military and terrorist actions,” the notice said. “It is intended to acknowledge the inherently stressful nature of the places, types, and circumstances of service in which fear of hostile military or terrorist activities is ongoing.” Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until Oct. 23. A final regulation will be published after consideration of comments. To see more, go to: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/index.cfm.
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Blair: IC Will No Longer Use Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
Newly formed expert interagency interrogation teams will not use enhanced interrogation techniques on terrorism suspects and instead will be guided by the mandates of the Army Field Manual, said Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair. In an Aug. 24 letter to Intelligence Community (IC) employees, Blair said the government will be forming the expert teams to conduct high-value interrogations of suspects. However, techniques such as water boarding have been repudiated by the government and will not be permitted. Attorney General Eric Holder on Aug 24 named a special prosecutor to probe CIA prisoner abuse cases in which CIA employees or contractors are accused of using harsh interrogations that went beyond approved limits. “Over the next several days there will be public discussion about individual incidents from the past in which some intelligence officers fell short of the high standards we set for ourselves,” Blair wrote. “Their conduct tarnishes us all. However, the questionable actions of a few should not obscure the dedicated, difficult and correct actions of the many.” To see more, go to: www.dni.gov/press_releases/20090824_release.pdf.
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Specter Seeks Hearing on VA End-of-Life Counseling
Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., asked that the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee look into reports that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) guidelines pressure disabled veterans to forgo critical care by subtly urging them on end-of-life decisions. In an Aug. 24 letter to Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Specter called for a hearing on the matter after it was raised by Jim Towey, director of faith-based initiatives during the George W. Bush administration. Appearing over the weekend on “Fox News Sunday,” Towey said end-of-life counseling is already taking place for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan via a VA booklet called “Your Life, Your Choices—Planning for Future Medical Decisions: How to Prepare a Personalized Living Will.” Specter said he wants to get to the bottom of the matter. “I believe it would be helpful for our Senate Veterans Affairs Committee to hold a hearing on this document and the issues raised,” Specter wrote. To see more, go to: http://specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=News
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