LOCAL 1998
Union Vice President
Step 1 Grievance November 9, 2001
To: ___________, Supervisor
Re: Promotion of Employee A
In accordance with Article 20, Section 7 of the Agreement Between Passport Services and the National Federation of Federal Employees – Local 1998 (hereafter referred to as “the Agreement”), I am filing this formal Step 1 Grievance on behalf of Employee A regarding her promotion from GS-4 to GS-5.
I previously made a written request to you that Employee A be promoted on October 18th and also discussed her promotion with you on that date. In response, we have received your memo dated November 2nd, in which you stated that you would promote Employee A upon completion of a special project. We object to the condition that you have placed on promoting Employee A. There is no timeframe for completion of the special project, which cannot even begin until her security clearance is reactivated. The special project is not one of the duties assigned to the GS-4/5/6 career ladder for her position. Finally, and most importantly, there is no provision in the Agreement for requiring the completion of a special project in order to be promoted.
While the special project cannot be a requirement for her promotion, Employee A wishes to make it clear that she is eager to begin work on this assignment.
Employee A has met all of the requirements to be promoted:
1) She has met the required time-in-grade for promotion by having worked as a GS-4 for many years, serving approximately 11 months in her current position. The one-year requirement cited in the Agreement is for employees in the GS-5/7/9/11 ladder.
2) She has been rated at least Fully Successful or higher. During her last interim evaluation in June 2001, she was told she was performing at the Outstanding level.
3) She has demonstrated the ability to perform satisfactorily at the next higher level in her career ladder. According to Article 15, Section 7e of the Agreement, “(g)enerally, if the employee is exceeding all work requirements at his/her current grade level, that is an indication that the employee is capable of performing at the higher grade level.” In addition, during our discussion of Employee A’s performance, in response to my queries you replied that you felt that she would be able to perform at least at the Fully Successful level if promoted to GS-5. Finally, the fact that Employee A is being asked to work a Special Project previously performed by employees at grade levels much higher than the GS-4/5/6 ladder is further indication of her readiness to be promoted.
Therefore, I respectfully request that Employee A be promoted to the GS-5 level, retroactively effective to October 21, 2001 (Pay Period 21).
Thank you,
Dianne Maynard
NFFE Local 1998 Vice President