The time is running out for us.  A lot of us has spent years serving our government to wake up and find what we were promised will possibly not be there.  Last week, the House voted and passed to take these benefits away.  Everyone needs to pay attention to what is happening in Congress.  It is very important we reach out to our representatives and express the need for the government to keep their promises.  Who would want to work for the an employer who doesn’t keep promises?  Also remember, these representatives have not proposed any cuts to their retirement or benefits.   The following link is contact information for representatives – CALL THEM NOW!  State Senators and Representatives Contact Information

AFGE has also set up a phone line you can call to reach your representative.  Below is the information on the phone line from AFGE.

We are pleased to announce our annual BOP Organizing Blitz.  The Blitz will start September 1, 2017 thru December 31, 2017.  Please view the following for information on the rebate and sign-up membership form.

BOP Rebate:Membership Form

The following are notes from the union meeting on 8/14/17.

• 2 Arbitration cases are pending dates (Light Duty Cases)
• Termination case date has been set for February 12-16, 2018
• $150 for veteran’s retreat was voted and approved
• The local1612 website has been rebuilt and updated
• Nursing and CNA positions have been approved to be filled and have been announced on USAJobs.

Full meeting minutes can be requested for viewing at union meetings or an arrange time with an E-board member.

There have been several employees that have given up a high paying job to work in an environment that most do not want to ever see.  Those that choose to work at a prison give up a certain freedom that is difficult to explain.  As years go by, those individuals form a certain paranoia and skepticism that is unique for most prison employees.  It is hard to exactly explain this metamorphosis, but those who work behind the walls and fences understand.

We are Law Enforcement Officers, even though most consider us the step child of law enforcement.  We give up our freedom for a promise of a better future and job stability.  Unfortunately, those ideals are under attack from our government.

We were promised benefits and our future was created around those promises.  It is time not to sit back and watch what might become of our benefits.  It is time to stand up and speak up!

Call or write your representatives State Senators and Representatives Contact Information.  Ask your representative – If the 2018 Federal Budget proposes any cuts to the Senators or House Representative’s benefits? (Most will tell you they have no idea)  Express to them you have planned your future around what had been promised and you have made sacrifices to obtain those promises.  Tell them to vote “NO” to cut federal employee benefits.

As law enforcement officers, we are required to retire by our 57th birthday.  These proposals go back on what we were promised when we were hired by the federal government.  It is important to voice our concerns to our representatives about these budgets proposals to break their promise to each of us.  Please call your representative by calling (844) 669-5146 or visit our State Senators and Representatives Contact Information page for representative information.

The budget proposes four changes:

• An increase in employee contributions by 1 percent each year for the next six years,
• An elimination of the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for current and future Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) participants and cutting the COLA by 0.5 percent for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) participants of what the typical formula currently allows,
• basing future retirement benefits on the average of an employee’s highest five years of salary. Currently, retirement benefits are based on an employee’s length of service, salary and highest three-year average salary, and,
• Eliminate supplemental payments to employees who retire before age 62.

As most of you know, the hiring freeze for the bureau of prisons continues. Here are a couple of interesting articles about the concerns with security.

http://www.berlindailysun.com/newsx/local-news/61827-fci-berlin-hiring-freeze-concerns-congressional-delegation

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-seeks-cuts-in-federal-prison-jobs-1497390682