EPA's climate of fear

[BOfH]

Talk about climate change

The Daily Caller has obtained an internal “report of violence in the workplace” notifying top officials at the Environmental Protection Agency about the abusive behavior of a political appointee close to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson.

The report and call for an independent investigation and action highlights the behavior of Stephanie Owens, an EPA deputy associate administrator in the Office of the Administrator’s Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education. It details a March 14 incident in which Owens, a political appointee, verbally attacked a bargaining unit employee to the point that the union member was afraid to return to her office — for the second time in two weeks.

The memo is dated March 15 and was penned by Steve Shapiro, the executive vice-president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3331 — the largest bargaining unit at EPA. It goes on to explain that this is just one of many incidents involving Owens that have created a “climate of fear” in the department.

According to the document, while the union has officially complained about Owens’ behavior in the past, she has remained in her position and EPA has not addressed the union’s concerns about her behavior or the “climate of fear.”

snip

http://dailycaller.com/2012/06/20/un...-abuse-at-epa/

[Pete]

The story is well and good but.....

What the heck does the EPA Bargaining Unit do? Is that the Union - not the EPA? If it's the union it's pretty funny one of their goons got run off.

The EPA sure as heck don't bargain with the American Taxpayers it steamrolls.

[BOfH]

Originally Posted by Pete

The story is well and good but.....

What the heck does the EPA Bargaining Unit do? Is that the Union - not the EPA? If it's the union it's pretty funny one of their goons got run off.

The EPA sure as heck don't bargain with the American Taxpayers it steamrolls.

QP Pete,
That's a good point, the monster is eating its own. Hopefully they completely self-destruct come November.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by Pete

The story is well and good but.....

What the heck does the EPA Bargaining Unit do? Is that the Union - not the EPA?

Management is management (like the alleged political-appointee abuser). "Bargaining unit" is the collection of non-supervisory employees, just normal salaried folks, which are covered under the union's negotiated agreement with the activity/base/agency, etc.

In context, remember that union's under the Fed Gov't can't (successfully) play the one card they always wanted elsewhere - strike, just ask the air-traffic controllers how that turned out with Pres. Reagan at the helm.

Also, FOR STATISTICAL PURPOSES, all non-supv folks are considered to be members of "the bargaining unit" whether they're dues-paying actual union members or not. (I am unwillingly counted by the union here when it comes time for them to talk turkey with the agency. Even if my preference would be they just go away & pound sand in general.)

It's entirely possible the abused person isn't necessarily some union local steward or anything but an employee. However, in my experience, she is likely an actual member of the Local; otherwise AFGE would never expend resources to champion her cause. They have no use for non-paying members of the bargaining unit - until it comes time to use them as a widget - and also have little use for most mid-level but non-supervisory white-collar employees. They believe, like their messiah, that "at some point you've made enough money."

[ZonieDiver]

However, in my experience, she is likely an actual member of the Local; otherwise AFGE would never expend resources to champion her cause. They have no use for non-paying members of the bargaining unit...

I have no experience with the AFGE, but have been a member of the "Council of Representatives" and "Negotiations Team" as well as at one time being VP of more than one local "Educational Associations" (aka union)... all under the umbrella of the NEA, unfortunately.

Like your situation, the contract language with the district provided that a teacher had the right to have a "representative" at any personnel issue discussion with admin. Usually, the teacher chose one of the school's members of the Council of Reps. We (the local EA) were under no obligation to accompany any non-member (they could have a lawyer, friend, other teacher, etc go with them). However, on a case-by-case basis, if the issue was one that was important to the EA, we'd do so.

Perhaps AFGE Local officials would seriously love to get rid of this political appointee, and see the incident has having the best chance to do that - whether or not the complainant is, or is not, a union member.

[Badger52]

Originally Posted by ZonieDiver

Perhaps AFGE Local officials would seriously love to get rid of this political appointee, and see the incident has having the best chance to do that - whether or not the complainant is, or is not, a union member.

Yup, entirely plausible as well. Or it could all be simply what's reported, a jerk-wad manager creating a hostile work environment.

As their tenure possibly draws to a close I wonder if the appointee population is getting a little testy lately.