Summary: This is a Newsletter of current events and issues facing our Chapter.

Dear members, potential members, and those "holding their breath" for a decision on the union election:

Welcome to the NTEU Chapter 142 website. I hope that everyone finds this a useful communication tool and please send me any suggestions to improve our website.

If you haven’t yet done so, please visit the NTEU national website. You will find it to be a very useful website. It contains a summary of issues important to employees. You will find news regarding the 2007 pay raise, DHS regulations, member benefits and Capwiz, an extremely quick method of writing to your Senators and Congressman regarding issues important to us. NTEU has an exclusive web site for CBP employees at www.CBPunion.org. We also have a free electronic newsletter called the NTEU DHS Update. You can subscribe by visiting the CBP union web site. For general federal employees issues, visit the NTEU web site at www.nteu.org.

The mission of our chapter is to improve working conditions and moral and protect the statutory and contractual rights of employees. We have solicited CBP to work together with our chapter on the first two parts of our mission. I had a recent meeting with the Area Port Director and I stressed the importance of positive reinforcement and transparency in decision-making. I also stressed the importance of increasing the overall staff at the POE’s. It is unsafe to conduct enforcement inspections with only one officer or it is impossible to conduct enforcement inspections if no one is available in secondary.

Our chapter will continue to lobby our Vermont Congressmen to oppose the "one face at the border" initiative and pay for performance (DHS regulations), the need to increase staffing, and LEO status. Please continue to use Capwiz!!!

The following is a list of NTEU victories that have directly put $ in your pocket and have improved our working conditions:

• Foreign Language Award Program
• FLETC 6th day settlement payout of 16.5 million
• Stopping the implementation of pay for performance (DHS regulations)
• Established job swap
• Flexible spending accounts
• Compensatory time off for travel
• Fighting to retain a performance award program that gives employees a voice

Feel free to contact any of the Chapter Officers/Stewards any time you have a problem, an issue that needs clarification, or any other matter. If we cannot answer your question, or assist with your problem, perhaps we can steer you in the right direction.

Glenn Dockham
President NTEU Chapter 142