Washington, D.C. – In recent years, the Bureau of Consular Affairs—the agency within the State Department that is responsible for issuing U.S. passports—has become significantly understaffed. Consequently, the amount of time needed to obtain a passport has increased dramatically for the millions of people requesting passports each year. Internal documents at the Department of State reflect […]

The Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) is currently offering two scholarship opportunities for NFFE-IAM members and their families. Ranging from $1000-$5000, the competition is accepting applications for eligible individuals attending or planning to attend an institution for higher learning. Although the majority of scholarships are awarded for undergraduate students, awards are also granted […]

1998 President Rob Arnold and Vice President Amanda Booher made a three-day trip to offices in the Northeast.  The visits to the Portsmouth, Connecticut and Boston agencies collected employee feedback on ways to improve conditions in Passport Services.

The Federal Labor Relations Authority ruled on an arbitration appeal by the Agency.  An arbitrator had ruled on the Agency’s consistenly-glitchy computer systems.  He found that Management failed to provide timely updates on how employees’ production expectations would be affected by systems failures.  The FLRA determined the original decision was correct in finding the two-hour notification deadline […]

Following up a step one grievance filed by Dallas officers Chrestotholos and Gallerini, Local 1998 filed a step two grievance encompassing all passport offices.  At issue is employees being denied mileage expenses when they are called in to work after-hours to handle duty officer cases

NFFE President Randy Erwin was temporarily arrested by Capitol Police after refusing to leave the Senate Majority Leader’s offices, and demanding a meeting to end the government shutdown. The arrests came after a protest in the Senate Hart Building in which hundreds of federal employees joined labor leaders.

The 30-day period for the Agency to allege provisions in the new bargaining agreement contrary to law has now passed.  The new black-covered bargaining agreement replaces the (burgundy-colored version that first went into effect in 2009.

An arbitrator ruled on the question of whether Management enjoys unlimited freedom to edit forms referenced in the contract that impact employees.  Aribitrator McConnell ruled that the Agency’s edits to the Garrity and Kalkines forms were improper, requiring notification to the union. The Agency was ruled responsible for all arbitration fees.