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End of School Year Wrap Up On Major Issues

posted June 18, 2018

Find out the status of some of the biggest issues/challenges facing FEA and its members as the school year closes. Click here

HQ CONTACT INFO FOR SUMMER RAT ISSUES

If you're still having problems with RAT travel for this summer, be sure DoDEA HQ can reach you once you lose access to Outlook mail during the break. See FEA's update.

TAKE ACTION IN THE FIGHT TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS

DoDEA management has proposed legislation that would strip employees' bargaining rights and civil service protections as part of the agency's plan to combine its Overseas and Stateside schools. Click here to find out what you can do to speak up for your most basic rights and civil service protections.

FEA JOINS OTHER UNIONS IN LAWSUIT OVER TRUMP EXECUTIVE ORDERS

FEA and 12 other unions representing 300,000 federal workers have filed a lawsuit seeking to halt three unlawful and anti-employee Executive Orders issued by President Trump in May 2018. Learn more about the lawsuit here

Executive Orders Hurt Employees

On May 25, President Trump issued a trio of Executive Orders intent upon lessening employees' rights and restricting activities of the unions lawfully elected to represent those employees. Read FEA's take on those Executive Orders.

GSA Issues Guidance on Taxes Affecting Moving Costs/Allowances

The guidance states employees being relocated for the benefit of the government (which would include those moving due to transfers or excess reassignments) are eligible for reimbursement of "substantially all" taxes on relocation assistance they get from the government. Taxes remain a huge burden, however, for those separating from or coming into DoDEA. Read FEA's update on the issue

Guidance on Applying for RAT Using DTS

FEA's Pacific Area Director and the Pacific Area Leadership Council have developed guidance for using DTS to apply for RAT travel orders this summer. View their information here.

May 2018 Journal Now Online

Info on management's harmful proposals affecting employee rights and benefits as part its plan to merge overseas and stateside schools; Red for Respect; Read Across America; Summer Meeting preview; more inside!
Read the May FEA Journal in PDF format

FEA LEGAL UPDATE: Resolving Issues With Shipment of 100 Lbs Unaccompanied Baggage With RAT

A number of members have reported not being authorized the 100 pounds per person shipment for unaccompanied baggage on their RAT orders. FEA's legal department has issued an update to help members in this situation.

Update on Allowance/Moving Cost Tax; Proposal to Slash Fed Retirement Benefits

FEA has posted an update for members on the issue of allowances, including moving expenses, for federal employees now being taxed and also on a raft of harmful proposals from OPM that would slash the value of feds' retirement benefits. Read that update here.

DODDS SALARY INCREASES POSTED

The SY 17-18 salary schedules for Overseas educators have been finalized. The average increase per position is:

Classroom Teachers -- 2.03 percent
Speech Pathologists -- 2.03 percent
Guidance Counselors -- 2.11 percent
School Psychologists -- 1.55 percent

View the complete SY 17-18 salary schedules for FEA Overseas bargaining unit members here.

CHECK OUT THIS READ ACROSS AMERICA VID FROM HEROES ES

The faculty and staff at Heroes Elementary School on Camp Lejeune made a video of themselves reading Dr. Seuss' "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" to their students. Great work everyone!

FEA ANNUAL MEETING/NEA-RA

The FEA Annual Meeting will take place June 29 and 30 at the InterContinental Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota. The NEA Representative Assembly (NEA-RA) will take place immediately after (July 1-5) at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Learn more about these meetings by going to our RA Delegate information page.

CUTS TO SUBS WILL COST STUDENTS LEARNING TIME

DoDEA students will lose upwards of a week of classroom learning time each school year under management's plan to eliminate subs during BAS testing.

Read FEA's press release and fact sheet on the BAS issue to learn more.

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

CALL ATTENTION TO PAY PROBLEMS

IMPORTANT -- Do not download or forward this information while on government time or while using government equipment. Also, do not forward this information to any government email account, such as DoDEA Outlook mail.
Under guidance from the FEA Board of Directors, FEA Europe General Counsel/UniServ Bill Freeman has developed a letter writing campaign, aimed at bringing the numerous pay and collection issues DoDEA employees face to the attention of Congress and Pentagon leaders. Please use the link below to access information from Bill Freeman and share your stories/concerns with the decision makers suggested by Bill. Please avoid doing so, however, while on government property, while using government owned computer equipment, or while on government time.

Click here to learn more about writing decision makers in an effort to raise awareness of pay problems

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.