Is the Environmental Protection Agency Anti-Union?

[Omaha Steve]

AFGE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF EPA LOCALS #238
Questions EPA’s Apparent Anti-Union Animus for Federal Sector Unions
AFGE EPA Council Negotiating Since May 2010 – And Now At Impasse

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 15, 2012

CONTACT: Charles Orzehoskie [phone]
Enid Doggett [phone]

CHICAGO—The American Federation of Government Employees’ Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) Labor Council announced today that it filed yesterday with the Federal Service Impasses Panel (“FSIP”) over the Agency’s declaration of impasse during ground rules negotiations for a successor collective bargaining agreement.

“The Union has been extremely patient with the Agency negotiators and since May 3, 2010, has endured over 2 ½ years of delay tactics, implausible excuses, surface bargaining, and overall bad faith bargaining. I wonder if there is an element of anti-union animus on the part of EPA managers responsible for these negotiations?” stated AFGE Council 238 President Charles (“Chuck O”) Orzehoskie.

“At least we now know the Agency’s true intentions, and we will have the opportunity to present our case before a reasonable, independent third party. However, what remains puzzling to us all is just what exactly is the Administration’s stance with respect to labor?” stated Derrick Davis, Labor Relations Specialist with AFGE’s National Office. “Does the President’s Executive Order 13522 have any real meaning?” added Davis.

“In spite of past practices regarding ground rules, the Agency has now taken a position that they want to drastically modify their past position with respect to ground rules. In fact, the Agency is now proposing to treat AFGE Council 238 with less respect and favor than it has shown to the National Treasury Employees Union (“NTEU”) on ground rules,” added Orzehoskie.
“After indicating that the Union would be willing to concede even some of its statutory rights in order to move things forward, the Agency was apparently not inclined to reciprocate and declared impasse. It appears to me that the Agency is engaged in a combination of surface bargaining and tactical delays in an effort to break the Union’s position,” stated John O’Grady, AFGE Council 238 Treasurer.
“Employees of EPA do critical work to ensure that all Americans have clean air to breathe and safe water to drink. We would expect this Administration to cooperate with labor to make EPA one of the best and most productive places to work. This would facilitate EPA continuing to attract the best and brightest employees, ensuring that its mission to protect human health and the environment will continue to be carried our for future generations,” concluded Orzehoskie.

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AFGE Council 238 and its affiliated locals constitute a union of highly dedicated employees working within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nationwide. Membership in the Council includes Locals at EPA Headquarters, Research Triangle Park in North Carolina, all 10 Regional Offices, as well as the National Health & Environmental Effects Research Laboratory in Corvallis and Newport, OR, National Vehicle & Fuel Emissions Laboratory in Ann Arbor, MI, and the Robert S. Kerr Research Laboratory in Ada, OK.