FOPNDWLaborCommittee

FOP

NAVALDISTRICTWASHINGTON

Message from the Executive Board

Chairman Anthony Meely

As we move forward into 2010, I am excited about the opportunities that we have as a labor committee. We will together work on increasing salaries for our DOD officers, and we will together finally achieve statutory authority for our DOD officers. Let me be clear that it will take every effort of every member to achieve this goal. But I am determined that we will succeed. I am your Chairman Anthony T. Meely.

Upcoming Meetings The next union meeting will be:		Officers in Need Click here to volunteer to help, donate, or to submit the name of an officer in need
Date: Time: Location: Topics:	February 3, 2009 7:00 pm FOP DC Lodge #1 , Washington, DC

Click here to read message from Press Secretary Valerie Blackmon.
Legislative News Legislative Liaison Ana Tarango As many of you know, we are spearheading a national effort to rally support and co-sponsorship of two proposed bills in congress: H.R. 673 "Officer Pay Equity Act" and H.R. 675 "Statutory Authority." We are trying to get every Officer to send a letter to their congressional Representative. General letters have been drafted for everyone's convenience. All an Officer has to do to request a letter, is call, text or email their name and full address to me (Cpl. Ana Tarango at the Washington Navy Yard) so that I may determine who their Representative is and put the letter together for them. All that Officer has to then do, is sign the letter and give it back to the Union representative that gave it to them so that we can then mail it off. This is a relatively easy that for each of us to do. However, it is vitally important that we do so. We also need to get our spouses, family members, neighbors, relatives, friends, and co-workers to sign letters too. In order to move a proposed bill out of committee, it has to have a good amount of support and co-sponsorship. it then moves to the floor for a vote. If nobody asks the Representative to support/co-sponsor a proposed sponsor a proposed bills out there right now, especially with the economy, that the way to get ours moving, is by rallying support. there are also key players whose co-sponsorship or even public support alone can sway many other Representatives to also support those bills. We have such "heavy-hitters" here in our area: Steny Hoyer (MD) who is the Majority Leader, Eleanor Norton-Holmes (D) who often can rally the support of very esteemed groups and caucuses, and more, if such "heavy-hitters" can be sent enough letters by their constituency, they will have to take a very close look at these bills and will more than likely support them. Remember, this is YOUR retirement, YOUR LEO status, YOUR pay, YOUR benefits and YOUR authority these proposed bills will effect. You CAN have a say in your future. If we stand together, our voices will be heard. To request a letter, ask questions, please contact: Cpl. Ana Tarango Cell Phone: 202-213-2480 Phone Email: 202-213-3480@txt.att.net Email: ana.tarango@navy.mil

Click here to read message from Press Secretary Valerie Blackmon.

Legislative News

Legislative Liaison Ana Tarango

As many of you know, we are spearheading a national effort to rally support and co-sponsorship of two proposed bills in congress: H.R. 673 "Officer Pay Equity Act" and H.R. 675 "Statutory Authority."

We are trying to get every Officer to send a letter to their congressional Representative. General letters have been drafted for everyone's convenience. All an Officer has to do to request a letter, is call, text or email their name and full address to me (Cpl. Ana Tarango at the Washington Navy Yard) so that I may determine who their Representative is and put the letter together for them. All that Officer has to then do, is sign the letter and give it back to the Union representative that gave it to them so that we can then mail it off.

This is a relatively easy that for each of us to do. However, it is vitally important that we do so. We also need to get our spouses, family members, neighbors, relatives, friends, and co-workers to sign letters too.

In order to move a proposed bill out of committee, it has to have a good amount of support and co-sponsorship. it then moves to the floor for a vote. If nobody asks the Representative to support/co-sponsor a proposed sponsor a proposed bills out there right now, especially with the economy, that the way to get ours moving, is by rallying support.

there are also key players whose co-sponsorship or even public support alone can sway many other Representatives to also support those bills. We have such "heavy-hitters" here in our area: Steny Hoyer (MD) who is the Majority Leader, Eleanor Norton-Holmes (D) who often can rally the support of very esteemed groups and caucuses, and more, if such "heavy-hitters" can be sent enough letters by their constituency, they will have to take a very close look at these bills and will more than likely support them.

Remember, this is YOUR retirement, YOUR LEO status, YOUR pay, YOUR benefits and YOUR authority these proposed bills will effect. You CAN have a say in your future. If we stand together, our voices will be heard.

To request a letter, ask questions, please contact:

Cpl. Ana Tarango
Cell Phone: 202-213-2480
Phone Email: 202-213-3480@txt.att.net
Email: ana.tarango@navy.mil

Pressing Issues

There is an Official "study" and report that the Pentagon has put out that all the membership, in fact, all DoD Police Officers should be aware of.

California Congresswoman Susan Davis asked the Pentagon what the feasibility of creating a centralized, standardized Dod Police force would be. What would the cost-effectiveness be? What kind of benefit, status, training and other changes would have to be made:

the Pentagon conducted an internal "study" that was substantiated by nobody else, in which they stated that creating such a DoD Police force would cost too much money and provide no real benefit to the Dod. They claimed that all Dod Police Officers receive ample and adequate training do NOT need to have LEO status, need no change in benefits, and all the Departments are running quite effectively as they are.

After having read the report itself, we have found that it is full of inconsistencies and falsehoods. Again, there is nothing to substantiate the Pentagon's "claims." In fact, because we have much evidence proving the contrary, we will seek to challenge this report and are trying to get on Congresswoman Davis' calendar to discuss this pressing matter.

What Can We Do?

In this time when things seem to be going crazy, many of you may be wondering, "What can I do?" There are many things that you do!

First of all, take note of all the things that are no longer going on that used to take place. Some things have definitely gotten better.

Next, take some comfort that your Union Executive Board. Stewards and those working in other Union Positions are working very hard and many long hours to help better the situation and combat the wrongs that are trying to be done.

Remember to be patient. Although difficult at times, you must remember that Rome was not built in a day, nor was it destroyed in a day. The kinds of changes that we are seeking, that you are seeking, take time.

Next, make sure to do your job. There are days that you can get discouraged, disgruntled or even numb; but non-the-less, do your job. You can't be wrong if you are right.

Finally, if a violation, has occurred or there is a complaint, you have 7 (SEVEN) days from the date of incident to file a grievance. If you have gone to your shift union steward and they have not taken it to anyone moved forward with it, take the complaint to the chief shop steward. Do not let your time frame go by. It is vital that you keep track of your time frames and file within them.

Please do not assume that somebody else will automatically file grievances for your or that "somebody" will "take care of it" because a wrong has been done. There are processes for us to grieve or challenge those things with which we do not agree. We must use them and use them correctly.

Furthermore, keep the lines of communication with your Union representatives open. If there is information that you happen to come across that you feel may be helpful to the Union please share it. Remember, the Union represents you, help the Union to help you.

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