STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL SERVICES, POST OFFICE & CIVIL SERVICE SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL EMPLOYEE LEAVE BANKS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000700040038-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 13, 2013
• Sequence Number: 38
• Publication Date: March 18, 1988
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP90M00005R000700040038-5
NATIONAL
FEDERATION
OF FEDERAL
EMPLOYEES
hiPp
STATEMENT
BY THE
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES
BEFORE
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL SERVICES;
POST OFFICE & CIVIL SERVICE
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
.ON FEDERAL EMPLOYEE LEAVE BANKS
MARCH 18, 1988
1016 16th St., N.W.
WASHINGTON, DC
20036
(202) 8624400
STAT
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/02/13: CIA-RDP90M00005R000700040038-5
Mr. Chairman and Subcommittee Members:
On behalf of the National Federation of Federal Employees, which
represents over 150,000 Federal workers across the nation, I
appreciate the opportunity to present our views on the concept of
leave sharing for Federal employees. I commend you, Mr. Chairman,
for your attention to this important issue, and look forward to
working with you and the Subcommittee to develop a model leave
sharing bank for Federal workers.
I am delighted that you have chosen this moment to examine the
viability of leave banks for Federal workers, because clearly, a
serious need for this legislation exists in the Federal
Government. We are fortunate to live in an era when medical
technology has progressed to the point that many who would
previously have died of dread diseases are now able to recover
and lead productive lives. The physical cost is often a gruelling
series of treatments and rehabilitation sessions. But it is the
financial costs, even with the best insurance policies, that can
provide the hardest burden for the employee and his or her
family. The loss of income associated with an extended recovery
period can be, and too often is, an insurmountable burden for too
many Federal employees.
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Last summer, the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund,
of which NFFE is a charter member, presented a check for $1,500
to Frances Scott, an employee at the Naval Observatory. Ms_. Scott
was on extended leave without pay because of cancer and had
previously been on leave without pay in order to care for her
daughter who had also become seriously ill. While FEEA was
pleased to be able to help Ms. Scott in this manner, the $1,500
couldn't go as far as we wished. If Ms. Scott has been eligible
for the benefits of a leave bank, her financial burden might have
been lessened considerably.
Unfortunately, NFFE suspects that Ms. Scott's story is repeated
year after year, in Federal installations around the country.
Employees whose needs are well known to their co-workers can't 1.
receive the help those co-workers are willing to give because of
restrictions against leave transfers. And while "passing the hat"
for an ill co-worker can provide some assistance, few employees
can afford the cash value of an entire day's paycheck, while the
donation of one day of leave might be entirely within the
co-workers' ability to provide.
NFFE has two suggestions for any legislation on Federal employee
leave banks that may be introduced as a result of this hearing_.
First, it is important that employees covered by a negotiated
agreement be able to participate in the leave bank as soon as the
enacting legislation is signed. To ensure this participation, we
suggest that language be drafted so that-the leave bank policy is
considered a mandatory subject of bargaining. In this way, Local
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unions could bargain with management according to the specific
needs at the worksite, enabling all employees to participate in
this benefit while preserving the pre-eminence of the negotiated
agreement.
NFFE's second concern is that regulations concerning eligibility
for the benefits of the leave bank be structured in such a way
that favoritism would be impossible. Allowing the agency to
consider the likely impact on morale and efficiency when
reviewing a worker's request for leave needed for reasons other
than the worker's own illness could open the door for favoritism.
On Tuesday, March 15, the House passed HR 3981, legislation
introduced by Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) that would
correct the ethics prohibition against subordinates donating
items of value (i.e. leave) to superiors. Another bill by Mr.
Ackerman, RR 3757, would extend the current temporary leave
sharing program for three years. This legislation has been passed
unanimously by the House Post Office and Civil Service Committee,
and should be considered by the entire House in the near future.
Both of these bills have NFFE's support and could provide the
Subcommittee with an excellent starting point for formulating a
permanent leave bank for Federal workers.
That concludes my statement. I will be happy to answer any
questions.
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