Local Update Pay, Security Investigations, State of the Union

Good evening everyone. Here are some of the latest for the local:

• PAY - We are still reeling from the effects of the shutdown and none more obvious to the workforce than pay. Everyone should have recieved an LES today. If you did not, please let me know. To try and make sense of all of this, NATCA will be doing a webinar on how to use a the NATCA developed pay calculator (HERE) on 2/11/2019 2 pm PST. Space is limited on the call, so please feel free to join us in the NATCA office to listen in. Based on the level of interest, I may explore a bigger space for everyone to participate. Please respond if interested.

• Security Investigations - It has been brought to my attention that FAA Security has once again tried to conduct 5 year follow-up investigations off-site and off duty. The official regulation stipulates that these are to be conducted on duty time and at work. You can see the full document HERE (Section 7). If you get contacted to meet anywhere that is off-site/duty, please let us know. If you have already had this occur to you, please let us know. This issue has already been elevated to a regional level and should be corrected promptly.

• State of the Union - Finally I was honored to receive an invite to be the guest of Senator Patty Murray at the 116th State of the Union Address this past Tuesday. In total, 12 of our NATCA Brother’s and Sisters received the personal invite from their respective members of Congress. This is only possible because of the dedication and activism that we have in our great union. Thank you all for the support and letting me rep you in any capacity you deem fit. I will never forget the experience and I hope that it inspires at least some of you to help us in our legislative efforts to protect our union.

The Ever Changing Guidance on Pay

Due to the almost hourly changes on pay, I will be posting updates to the Local ZSE Slack channel under #shutdown2019. You can join HERE. THis is the fastest way I can get out information and interact to answer questions or at least forward them up. Please consider joining.

Still Not Paid?

People should have begun to receive paychecks this week. If you have not received pay, please respond to this message immediately and I will get the issue resolved ASAP. If you have questions overall that were not covered in the last couple updates, please reach out to me (206.406.0194), use our Local SLACK Channel for real time chats HERE, or contact your E Board. Thank you.

Non-Collaborative DOI Pay Memo Follow-Up

FIRST

Prior pay period recomputations include only required deductions listed below.

a. Retirement (CSRS and FERS)

b. Social Security (OASDI) Tax

c. Medicare Tax

d. Federal Income Tax

e. Basic Health Insurance Premium (FEHB)

f. Basic Life Insure (FEGLI)

g. State Income Tax

h. Local Income Tax

i. Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

(1) Basic Contributions

(2) Catch-up Contributions

j. Roth Savings Plan

(1) Basic Contributions

(2) Catch-up Contributions

ALSO

Making Loan Payments After the Government Shutdown

Due to limitations of employing agency/service payroll systems, some payroll offices may not be able to deduct loan payments from back pay. If your loan payments haven’t been taken out of back pay, you should submit your loan payments directly to the TSP using the Loan Payment Coupon. You can always check the status of your loan by logging into My Account, selecting “TSP Loans,” and then selecting “Are my payments up to date?” Or you can call the ThriftLine at 1-877-968-3778 and speak to a Participant Service Representative.

FINALLY

Again, as I get more info, you will too. Thanks.

Non-Collaborative DOI Pay Memo

The wording below is exactly what I know. NATCA is currently in a battle with the Department of Interior (Pay) regarding this plan of action, but, this is what is happening UFN. If you have bills that are paid out via allotments, I would recommend either calling the entities that would normally receive that payment and formulate a plan or clarify expectation of payment. As of today, no one will get a breakdown/LES until PP3 (Feb 12). Why and how they developed this method of rolling out the back pay is something that has everyone scratching their collective heads and NATCA National is demanding answers. I wish I had better answers, but, I just don’t and am in the same situation as everyone else. Yet another example on the horrible effects of the shutdown. This matter is changing constantly and when I hear something, you’ll hear something.

“The FAA is working with the DOI to gather the most accurate information, but as a shutdown of this length has never happened before, the information continues to be updated and amended. Below is the most up-to-date information that NATCA has regarding how DOI will process the paychecks missed as a result of the shutdown. 

DOI started generating PP01 on Jan 28 – off-cycle payment to hit on Wednesday (30 Jan) at the earliest. 

This will be approximately 50% of gross pay (gross pay = standard 72 hours if employee worked on 12/23, otherwise standard 80 hours) vice 60% originally anticipated. DOI increased the amount from 50% to 60% to cover all possible deductions (taxes and benefits).

Deposits will be made to employee’s account on record.

Employees covered by F&E budget will receive approximately 50% of gross (gross pay = standard 56 hours)

DOI started generating PP02 on Jan 29. Similar to PP01, employees will receive approximately 50% of gross pay. (gross pay = standard 80 hours). Payment expected to hit on Thursday (Jan 31).

DOI will generate a third off-cycle payment on Wednesday (30 Jan) for catch-up payments. Payment expected to hit on Friday (Feb 01).

Anything not caught in first three passes will be caught up in PP03 (Feb 12).

Premium pays may be delayed until PP03 (Feb 12) or PP04 (Feb 26). 

There will be no Leave and Earning Statements (LES) issued for the three off-cycle payments (PP01, PP02, PP03). Adjustment amounts will likely be noted as lump sums on the PP03 LES. These will be reflected as “advances” in the earning section, and “adjustments” in the deduction section. 

Paycheck withholdings such as allotments and court orders will not be deducted in off-cycle checks. They will be the responsibility of the employee for PP01, PP02 and will restart with PP03.

Wages are based on when an employee is paid, not when the wages are earned. You will be paid in calendar year/tax year 2019 (as you would have were we not lapsed) and any back pay will be included in your 2019 taxable wages. You can access your 2018 W-2 in www.employeeexpress.gov now.”