ARTS IN UNIFORM

Can anyone who is/was in an Army Reserve (AR) unit please provide some info. about whether these units still have civilian technicians (like those in the USAF ART program) or have they all been converted to either military technicians or put in an AGR (active Guard/Reserve) status? Concerning the above comments about the lack of action by the unions, remember their main concern these days is how to deal which how the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) (which will replace the GS system in the DoD) is being implemented. Under NSPS, as proposed, bargaining will only be done at the national level. (Not sure what, if any, functions the locals will still have under NSPS.) Also the scope of areas which will be considered to be bargainable will be much more restricted then under the current GS system. Instead, Mgmt. will have much greater power under NSPS to just declare whole areas as non-bargainable and subject totally to whatever Mgmt. decides. If anyone is in one of the areas that has already been concerted to NSPS, please provide info. about what it has been like under the NSPS. How have the ratings and pay increase/decrease decisions been under NSPS?

Ok. now we have a form, so were all against it (except nurseee). We need someone important to step up to the plate, after reading all the forms and tell WHY we need to wear the uni??????

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Originally posted by URB:
I am a Union Steward at March ARB, CA and I can assure you that we have been working this issue from every possible angle.
There has been a lot of union bashing going around, but a Union is only as strong as its membership and I found that a lot of time, the individuals who yell loudest are non Union members. Plus, did anyone visit your union office lately and asked what it is that you can do to help?
The day we found out about the 2 Sep 07 implementation date, we filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and requested an injunction. The next day, I was contacted by a Senior Attorney at the FLRA, requesting more documentation. I provided this documentation on the same day, but the Reginal Director did not see an urgency to stop this mandate. In the mean time, we had a face-to-face visit with Senator Boxer's and Congressman Calvert's Representative. Both seem to be very interested and said that they are going to look into this issue. During an emergency union meeting, we had a reporter from the Press Enterprise present, who published an article about the uniform issue. We drafted letter templates for our union members so that they could forward these letters to their representative. We hired a lawyer to assist us with the verbiage in a package that we are forwarding to the Armed Services Committee. Television stations were contacted, but not interested, because they do not understand the ART program. I was told that "so what" you are Reservists and should wear the uniform. If we can overcome that part, were others understand that we are civilians from Monday through Friday, we may have a chance to have a TV station do a report. I received the name of an individual at one of our local channels, so I will try to contact that individual in hopes that he understands that this is a civil rights issue. As you can see, we have been busy. But, the most effective way to **** this is by having everyone, including family members, contact their representative to let them know this is a big deal and to stop volunteering for missions. We know that these missions are extra money and a nice way to get away from homestation, but if the uniform issue is really that big of a deal for individuals, just say NO next time they ask. If enough ARTs do this across America, AFRC either has to put you on orders, which means you receive the pay that you don't get right now wearing the uniform as a civilian, or they have to find someone else. I bet this will get old after a while. Just think about it, more than 50% of all missions are manned by volunteers. Pass on the word!

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This post showed up on the petition site:

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2595. CARRIE SCHMID MARCH ARB, CA although my union has decided we will comply, to those who have strong union representation good luck and be strong.

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Truth? Bradley said in his last AF Times interview that 7 bases are in full compliance. Is March one of them or is this young lady mistaken?

I can't help but think that now that they've got you to wear the uniform, the next step is to send you to Iraq.

Yes, Carrie is correct. At March ARB, we, the Union advised our members to comply with Maj Gen Duignan's and Brig Gen Melin's mandate that all ARTS are required to wear the uniform by 2 Sep 09, and here is why:
1. We already filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) with the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) and until the FLRA comes back with a decision, there is nothing that we can.
2. In order to effectively defy this mandate, ALL ARTs would have to refuse to wear the uniform, however, this is not going to happen. Not because ARTs like to wear the uniform, but because they are afraid to lose their job.
3. Management already has a Letter of Reprimands (LORs) ready for individuals who refuse to comply. So, for individuals to refuse, would only result in LORs, which in turn would lead to grievances, arbitrations and possible suspensions or worse for these individuals. Then what?
Carrie obviously did not frequent her union office, otherwise she would have been aware of everything that we are involved with.
I have a very strong feeling that the FLRA will rule in our favor and when that happens, ARTs at March ARB, will once again come to work in their civilian attire. However, we need to patiently wait until we hear from the FLRA. After we receive a decision, we would have to negotiate the uniform issue in the renegotiation of our contract, scheduled for Dec 07. As you all know, these contract negotiations can take from 2-5 years. This should provide everyone with sufficient time to look for another job should they desire to do so. In the meantime, we are working with a federal lawyer on putting verbiage together for a package that we are forwarding to the Armed Services Committee.
At Local 3854, we had to overcome several challenges, and I have yet to see any of our members offer their assistance. We are only four individuals, handling all cases(part-time), including the uniform issue, and I we have done a darn good job in all of these areas. So, if you are a union member and you feel that Local 3854 is not doing anything about the uniform issue, come talk to us. You can assume what ever you want, but we all know what assume does to us.
Just yesterday we had three individuals enter the union office upset and one was ready to drop the union because they were under the impression that we have done nothing as far as the uniform issue was concerned. After we enlightened them, they realized that we went as far as we could. But then I found out that two of the three individuals were not members. Again, a Union is only as strong as its membership. You have to remember that any case going for arbitration can cost the union up to $2000.00 or more, so if a Union does not have enough members, were do you thing this money comes from and how many cases do you thing that we are able to arbitrate?
So, let's not bash the Locals, take responsibility for your own action and ask yourself "What have I done to support this cause?"