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WHITE HOUSE THREATENS BARGAINING RIGHTS

posted February 11, 2020

As reported recently by Government Executive, the White House has drafted a memo granting authority to the Secretary of Defense to exempt Department of Defense (DOD) agencies, potentially including DoDEA, from laws guaranteeing workers the right to collective bargaining, in the name of "flexibility."

You can read the full article here for a detailed explanation of the threat to employee rights.

FEA is keeping abreast of the situation and is examining all avenues available to us with the goal of protecting and maintaining our members' rights. We will continue to keep our members informed of any new developments or attacks on their rights.

MANAGEMENT APPEALS ARBITRATOR'S RULING ON FEA-SR CONTRACT

DoDEA has filed an appeal with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) over an arbitrator's decision that declared the Agency's unilateral implementation of a successor Master Labor Agreement for FEA-Stateside Region educators to be an Unfair Labor Practice.
Read the update from FEA-SR General Counsel Ben Hunter here

OVERSEAS CONTRACT MEDIATION CONTINUES

posted January 27, 2020

Although some progress has been made on a few issues, many of the most potentially harmful proposals from DoDEA management remain unsettled as FEA's Overseas Contract Bargaining Team returns to mediation with DoDEA negotiators. Read FEA's Overseas Contract Bargaining Update here

EXCESS PLACEMENT INFORMATION

Permanent DODDS educators who have been declared excess can access the online placement application until 5pm ET on February 4, 2020. Visit FEA's Excess Placement Information Page for more information.

FEA BOARD NAMES INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/GENERAL COUNSEL FOR FEA

posted January 21, 2020
Richard Tarr has been named Interim Executive Director/General Counsel of the Federal Education Association following the retirement of H.T. Nguyen. Read about Richard's appointment and efforts to replace retiring FEA staff member Connie Shanaghan here.

VIEW CAMPAIGN FLYERS FROM FEA AREA DIRECTOR NOMINEES

View Campaign Flyers From the Candidates For FEA Area Director Offices By Going to This Page

Nominees have been named for the following offices on the FEA Board of Directors:

FEA Director for DDESS
FEA Pacific Area Director
FEA Europe Area Director

You can view the list of nominees and find other election information at the FEA Election Information Page.

Ballots will be mailed to FEA members January 16, 2020, and must be received by March 24, 2020, to be counted.

NEA Foundation Award Applications Due April 1

Association members who would like to be considered for nomination for the 2021 NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence must download the application packet and submit it to FEA's Washington DC office by April 1, 2020. Our 2020 nominee, Reading Specialist Patricia Hannon from Hohenfels Elementary School, is one of five nationwide finalists for the NEA Foundation's top award. FEA may submit one nominee for the award each year. If you think it should be you, download the form and submit it by April 1 to be considered.

December 2019 Journal Now Online

Overseas contract heading to mediation; Stateside contract arbitration; Area Director Elections; Much more inside.
Read the December FEA Journal in PDF format

DATA-DRIVEN AGENCY CONTINUES TO IGNORE DATA

posted December 17, 2019
Once again, DoDEA has dropped in the government's annual survey of "Best Places To Work", slipping from 357 in 2018 to 366 in 2019. Expect the rankings to get worse in the years ahead as a result of management's labor-relations practices. Read more here

Retiring, Incoming Civilians Get PCS Tax Help

posted December 12, 2019
In a move long fought for by FEA/NEA, the National Defense Authorization Act extends PCS tax reimbursements, retroactive to January 2018, to retiring/separating and incoming civilians. The NDAA also extends paid parent leave to federal civilians for the first time. Read FEA's full update here

BIG WIN FOR FEA-SR

The Federal Labor Relations Authority has sided with the Federal Education Association-Stateside Region over DoDEA management in a dispute concerning employees being denied proper compensation for academic credits earned.
Read the Special Update on this great win here!

STATESIDE MEMBERS: BE SURE TO LOG UNPAID TIME

FEA-Stateside members are reminded to use the Association-provided tracking sheet to log the unpaid hours they were required to work this school year and submit the tracking sheets to FEA-SR, for use in the Association's upcoming arbitration. Read the full update and access the tracking form here.

WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR FIGHT

NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia recorded this fantastic message of support and thanks to FEA members worldwide and reminds us that we are not alone in our fight against DoDEA and the federal government for better working and learning conditions. Visit this page (when you are off duty, off government property and not using government equipment) to voice your opposition to DoDEA's unilateral and illegal contract actions in Stateside schools and look for more opportunities to take action in the months ahead.

DoDEA Releases Info on RITA/WTA for PCS Taxes

posted March 11, 2019
DoDEA has (FINALLY!) issued guidance to Overseas employees regarding the availability of and procedure to follow in order to claim Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) and/or Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) for taxes on applicable civilian PCS moves. Anyone who PCSed in 2018 is advised to visit DoDEA's Web site and carefully read the guidance from DoDEA (found at the bottom of the linked page) to make sure you take advantage of the resources available to you.
DoDEA Info on PCS and Tax Changes

Hatch Act Information

Visit this page to learn more about the Hatch Act and find examples of activities allowed and prohibited under the law.
Hatch Act Do's and Don'ts

FEA HCR Newsletter and other HCR Info

View the latest issue of The Advocate, the monthly newsletter of FEA's Human and Civil Rights Program, and find other resources by clicking here.

FEA Social Media

FEA members (and anyone else) can follow FEA on Facebook and Twitter. We remind members these are public forums and should not be used to solicit or share legal advice. Members should always begin the process of seeking legal advice and services by contacting their local association representative and not share or reveal any personal information, particularly information pertaining to legal situations, on any public forum or social media site.

As always, we encourage our members to use these resources courteously and professionally.

Follow FEA on Twitter (#fededassoc)

Like FEA on Facebook

Teaching Channel: Videos that Inspire Teaching

The Teaching Channel website offers a growing library of short videos to inspire K-12 teaching. These video lessons - in English language arts, math, science, and history/social sciences - include lesson objectives, questions to consider, homework ideas, and more.

Free registration provides access to:

Highlights of skilled teachers teaching a lesson, such as Kick Me: Making Vocabulary Interactive

Tips and tricks for new teachers, such as Attention Getting Signals: One Spot and Planning Full Days & Practicing Fast Facts

Featured "Amazing Classrooms," such as Building Community in a Multi-Language Classroom

See the Welcome to Teaching Channel video.

Updates for our Members

Read the FEA President's Report and link to other updates for FEA members here.