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NWSEO Store
To join NWSEO by credit card or to donate please visit the NWSEO Store.
You can purchase NWSEO Merchandise such as mugs,
t-shirts, and branch magnets at the NWSEO Merchandise Shop.
About NWSEO
NWSEO
is the labor organization and professional association that represents
4,000 employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
in the U.S. Department of
Commerce, including:
- The forecasters,
technicians and support personnel of the National Weather Service, the
nation's official source for weather forecasts and warnings;
- The attorneys in
NOAA's Office of General Counsel, who are responsible for enforcing
laws that protect the nation's environment and natural resources;
- The civilian crews of the "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft based in Tampa, Florida;
- The technicians who track and command the nation's weather satellites from Wallops Island, Virginia; and
- The hurricane
researchers and other scientists and support personnel at the Atlantic
Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory in Key Biscayne, Florida.
NWSEO Working for You:
The Top 5 Recent Accomplishments
NWSEO works hard to improve working conditions and the quality of NWS services. The diligent work of the NWSEO produced these top five accomplishments in 2010-2011:
- Saving the CWSUs from consolidation – a culmination of a five year lobbying effort by NWSEO to preserve both aviation safety and NWS employee jobs. NWSEO spent over $200,000 in this lobbying effort and obtained the support of the Senate Commerce Committee, the House Science Committee and the House and Senate Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittees
- Securing back pay for overtime for nearly 200 NWS employees. Securing FLSA Non-Exempt status of an additional 165 NWS employees. The NWS has agreed to pay two years’ lost overtime wages and liquidated damages for those employees, as well.
- Winning an appeal to bargain to increase staffing at Anchorage WFO by 10 positions - this directs the National Weather Service to bargain with NWSEO over a proposal that would increase staffing at the Anchorage WFO by ten positions.
- Securing special projects designed to increase aviation safety, which include increased NWS personnel at the CWSU and WFOs in New York City, Atlanta, and Chicago.
- NWSEO secured an agreement that upgrades to a GS -8 every Administrative Support Assistant at field offices around the country. The GS -8 upgrade includes approximately one million dollars in extra pay and benefits to the lowest paid NWS employees each and every year from now on.
The Top 20 NWSEO Accomplishments
NWSEO Negotiated Health Benefits Package for NWS Employees
Your Local Forecast
The Only Union Produced Weather Forecast
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or Zip Code
Four Winds for 2013 are located on the Member News page.
The Four Winds 2010 - 2012 Archives
2012 NWSEO Four Winds Newsletters and Member News Archives
Member Change of Address Form
Have you moved recently? If so, please send your name and address to Lisa Luciani, Director of Communications, so that we can update our records. In addition to your mailing address, providing us with your current personal email address helps us to keep you informed. It only takes a minute and ensures that you'll receive all of the NWSEO news.
Labor Management Forum
The Department of Commerce Labor Management Forum
Management Issues
Management Issues
(May 1, 2013) NWSEO often tackles problems repeatedly from the same managers. Now, a color-coded branch list can be used to identify and inform members of potential problem managers. While circumstances may change over time, the current list highlights areas to warn members of the possible implications to their career and morale if they bid on these offices.
NWSEO Cares: Medical Leave Donations
NWSEO Members have always been generous with leave donations for co-workers in need.
If you are able to donate leave time, please complete the Donor Leave Transfer Application and submit it to your ASA. If you would like to learn more about the Leave Transfer Program, including a full list of participants, click here. NWSEO thanks you for your generosity and care!
NWSEO General Counsel Richard Hirn explains the NWS budget issues on Federal News Radio.
(May 30, 2012)Federal News Radio interviewed NWSEO General Counsel Richard Hirn on NWS Director Jack Hayes' retirement and the current budget issues the National Weather Service faces. Click here for the Federal News Radio interview. Scroll down to Richard Hirn's name to locate the audio clip of the interview. |
 
PREVAILING CONDITIONS
Top Story
May 20, 2013 - Message from Dan Sobien
Dear Members,
As I sit here watching TV coverage of the tornado in Moore OK, I am, first of all, sickened by looking at this tragedy. My thoughts and prayers are with the folks of Moore and especially for the parents of the children in the demolished elementary schools. I also want our members throughout the Midwest know how much I appreciate the work you do. While it pales in comparison to the suffering of the people in the track of the storms, few people will ever know what it is like to issue warnings for an event with multiple fatalities and the emotional toll it takes on you. I know that sometimes it seems like our own agency’s management does not appreciate the work you do, however you can be sure the people we really work for, the American public, appreciate you dearly. Thank you for your service.
Of course, it is also very important to thank all of the first responders and other public service employees who are out risking their own safety to save others’ lives. We work with these people every day - giving them weather information to help them do their jobs. These people are true heroes and there is no way I can thank them enough.
Go home, hug your loved ones and understand your co-workers appreciate the work you all did. Clearly many more people would have died if not for your efforts.
Sincerely,
Dan
National Academy of Public Administration Report for the NWS and U.S. Congress
(May 13, 2013) The National Academy of Public Administration published its report for the National Weather Service and U.S. Congress on its website today. Follow this link to view the full report and Project Results.
Congressman Nolan asks leadership to reject furloughs to NWS “that will have negative impacts on employees and readiness."
(May 9, 2013) Congressman Richard Nolan (D) Minnesota wrote the following letter strongly urging Deputy Secretary of Congress Rebecca Blank and Acting Undersecretary Kathryn Sullivan to reprogram NOAA funds towards the NWS and to reject the furloughs “that will have negative impacts on employees and readiness… Furthermore, I respectfully ask your agency leadership to do right for the working men and women who are stretched far too thin due to chronic understaffing at the NWS.”
Rep. Nolan's reprogramming request letter
NWSEO needs You!
$100 Rebate for New Members valid until May 24, 2013
(May 9, 2013) NWSEO is continues its work to prevent the furlough of NWS employees and to save the ITO position. The union has recently made great headway in communicating the message that furloughs put the agency’s mission at risk while saving little money in the NWS budget. Key members of Congress have been given more than 100 pages of documentation of the important role of the ITO. (More)
Helping our Own through the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program
Two NWSEO members are in need of medical leave donations. (George) Michael Lammers, the OPL at GLD in Goodland, Kansas, is in need of donated medical leave time after suffering a brain injury. Mike is a long time union member and served as a Met Instructor at the NWSTC a few years ago. (More)
The NWSEO 38th Annual National Convention
in St. Petersburg, Florida is September 22-23, 2013
(A Sunday-Monday Event)
(May 7, 2013) The 2013 NWSEO National Convention is in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida on Sunday and Monday, September 22-23, 2013. The convention takes place at the Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, an iconic hotel overlooking Tampa Bay, which features the ultimate luxurious retreat along Florida’s West Coast. (More)
Furloughs and Hiring Freeze to the NWS
Threaten Forecast Accuracy
(May 1, 2013) National Weather Service employees say that four furlough days added to the current hiring freeze stretches already short staffed offices to a breaking point, puts the American public at risk and jeopardizes the agency’s mission of saving lives (More)
Furlough Press Kit
Furlough News Release
Furlough Speaking Points
Contact your Senator
Contact your Congressional Representative
May 3, 2013
May 2, 2013
While NOAA proposes furloughs; Congress approves DOJ reprogramming request to keep employees on the job.
(April 25, 2013) Congress approved a reprogramming request presented by the Justice Department of $239,500,000 (almost 1% of their budget) Wednesday that will prevent furloughs of emergency employees (More)
Proposed Furloughs and ITO reductions –
NWSEO working to keep employees at their life-saving work
(April 17, 2013) NWSEO President Dan Sobien, Executive Vice President Bill Hopkins, and Southern Region Chair John Werner are in Washington DC this week, meeting with DOC, NOAA and NWS leadership in an effort to prevent the furloughs and keep the ITO positions at 122 weather forecast offices across the country. (More)
Congressman Wolf Urges Adequate Funding of NWS
(April 15, 2013) Please read the April 12 letter from Congressman Frank Wolf, chairman of the Commerce, Justice, and Science subcommittee of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. In his letter, Congressman Wolf urges Dr. Rebecca Blank, Deputy Secretary of Commerce, to “ensure that the NWS has the funding necessary to adequately forecast the weather.” Please post this letter on your union bulleting boards.
Letter from Congressman Wolf |