Gs Will Continue in the Us
Sept. 16, 2022: Update from Deputy Chief Jaelith Hall-Rivera: Wildland Firefighter series
Classification and FAM subject matter experts are working conscientiously to implement the new Wildland Firefighter series. I thank them for their hard work on the implementation thus far.
Through our outreach, we have received feedback concerned that our ambitious implementation timeline does not provide an opportunity to modernize position descriptions to describe the critical and complex work of our wildland firefighters more accurately.
I want to take this opportunity to thank those in the field participating in the process and let you know we are acting upon your input. We reached out to the Office of Personnel Management and requested additional time to complete the implementation of the new series. OPM has verbally granted our request. We will continue seeking clarity with our classification team, OPM and Department of Interior colleagues to address the concerns and the associated timelines. As we progress, we will continue communicating with you through this outlet.
As stated before, I understand there is much at stake regarding the new series. I want to do everything possible to ensure we do this right the first time, even if that requires more time. It is that important. Thank you for your patience, interest and engagement in this effort.
Aug. 15, 2022: Update from Deputy Chief Jaelith Hall-Rivera: firefighter increased payments
We last updated you all on this topic on June 16 in this forum, soon followed by the announcement on firefighter pay and series on June 21.
Our Human Resources Management Pay Branch has been hard at work ensuring that wildland firefighters are provided the temporary increase in compensation as outlined in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The agency successfully delivered the first retroactive payout covering the time from Oct. 1, 2021, through May 21, 2022. Firefighters began receiving biweekly payments effective July 3, 2022. They will continue to receive biweekly payouts until the funds are exhausted, projected to be sometime after September 2023.
We know folks may be wondering where their second retroactive payment is. We wanted to be sure to share with you that it is in the process of being uploaded to the National Finance Center payroll system. The payout was initially scheduled to be paid out to eligible employees on Aug. 8 but, unfortunately, due to technical issues, those payments could not be made in time. HRM plans to have the additional income to employees on or around Aug. 22, depending on the individual's financial institution. That payment will cover from May 22 through July 2, 2022.
Please ensure that Fire & Aviation Management personnel are aware of this delay. WO FAM and HRM will continue to provide additional updates as necessary. As always, we appreciate your continued support in these efforts.
You're also likely well aware that the much-appreciated funding we received in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for these pay increases is temporary in nature, projected to be exhausted sometime after September 2023. I want to assure you that the administration is committed to working with Congress to find a permanent pay solution in FY 2024. That is my top priority: Please know we are working closely with the departments of Agriculture and Interior, the Office of Personnel Management and the White House on this effort.
We will continue to communicate with you often on these matters, as well as the development of the new wildland firefighter series. I hope you've had the opportunity to join a regional town hall in recent weeks to discuss these topics and get answers to your questions. I look forward to continuing to hear from you in future roundtables.
Statement by President Joe Biden on Increasing Federal Firefighter Pay
June 16, 2022: Update from Deputy Chief Jaelith Hall-Rivera: firefighter occupational series and increased payments
We last updated you all on the firefighter occupational series and the increased payment that is funded in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on June 7. We're committed to continuing to provide you the information we do have—even if we don't know all the details or timing. We heard your feedback loud and clear.
Announcements about the pay and series are close at hand. The Forest Service continues to work with our colleagues in the Department of the Interior, Office of Personnel Management and USDA to get these over the finish line. We also met with the Forest Service Council of the National Association of Federal Employees and the National Association of Federal Employees this week to share information on the status of these provisions. Our goal remains to provide this increased payment to as many of you as possible nationwide, at the highest rate possible, and make it retroactive to Oct. 1, 2021. We are doing everything we can to meet the goal of paychecks in firefighters' pockets by the end of this month or the middle of next month. We know that's critical as we enter the busiest part of the fire year.
I want to reiterate what we said on June 7—we know you are frustrated that these key Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provisions have not been implemented. We understand your frustration and thank each and every one of you for your patience. Implementation has taken longer than any of us could have expected, but getting it right is important. And this increased payment will be a positive step forward—and a good stepping-stone toward long-term solutions. Congress provided enough funding for approximately two years—so now we can begin working on a longer-term solution. We want to work with you to build support for long-term solutions that address core issues including portal-to-portal pay, housing issues and firefighter health.
When the announcement is made, we will send it far and wide as quickly as possible. We know firefighters will have questions on the particulars of the pay and the series. To answer those questions, we will provide FAQs which will be updated as needed. Our Human Resources team will also be standing by to help answer questions.
Again, thank you for everything you all do to serve the American people. Together, we will get this done.
June 7, 2022: Update from Deputy Chief Jaelith Hall-Rivera: firefighter occupational series and increased payments
In the next few weeks, we will make announcements about the firefighter occupational series and the increased payment that is funded in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We support our federal wildland firefighters and know these BIL provisions are necessary to properly recognize the dangerous and stressful work you do on behalf of the American people.
We have encountered recruitment and retention challenges nationwide. We want this increased payment to include as many of you as possible, at the highest rate possible, and make it retroactive to October 1, 2021.
We know you are frustrated that these key BIL provisions have not been implemented. We understand your frustration and thank each and every one of you for your patience. Implementation has taken longer than any of us could have expected but getting it right is important.
This increased payment will be a positive step forward – and a good steppingstone towards long-term solutions. Congress provided enough funding for approximately two years – so now we can begin working on a longer-term solution. We want to work with you to leverage these coming announcements to build support for long-term solutions that address core issues including portal-to-portal pay, housing issues and firefighter health.
I recently hosted two Town Halls to answer questions about these important issues and to listen to your concerns. If you were unable to attend or would like to see that conversation again, we have posted a recording below. You must be logged onto the Forest Service network to view it.
Again, thank you for your continued patience. Together, we will get this done.
February 2, 2022: Update: Wildland firefighter pay, classification in infrastructure law
Recently, the secretary and Chief announced a new national strategy to confront the wildfire crisis facing the nation, focusing on dramatically increasing the scale of forest health treatments over the next decade. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides nearly $3 billion to reduce hazardous fuels and restore America's forests and grasslands, along with investments in fire-adapted communities and post fire reforestation.
In addition to this critical funding for landscapes, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also put a spotlight on critical changes needed to support wildland firefighters by including provisions for pay increases and requiring the development of a new wildland firefighter series. A lot of work was ongoing prior to the bill being passed to ensure that the Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and the Office of Personnel Management are coordinated in implementing these new provisions. Thousands of firefighting employees are waiting for information about the status of this work. There is significant complexity in implementing these new provisions, but Inside the Forest Service will be share updates frequently and transparently.
"Wildland Firefighter" occupational series: The Office of Personnel Management, USDA Forest Service and DOI have convened a workgroup that is meeting regularly.
- The Office of Personnel Management developed an action plan with milestones and a timeline.
- The workgroup is reviewing the previous GS-0456 classification standard, as well as other background documents (standard position descriptions, job analyses, recent job opportunity announcements, etc.) per the ask of OPM.
- The workgroup is reviewing all covered PDs to determine which will be retained for reclassification into the proposed new series.
- The group will hold focus group sessions February/March.
- The OPM requirement is to have this work completed by May.
Wildland Firefighter pay and compensation: OPM, Forest Service and DOI have a workgroup specific to pay and compensation.
- Both DOI and USDA have issued guidance to ensure no firefighter is paid less than $15 an hour.
- There is $600,000,000 available in the law for salaries and expenses ($480,000,000 for USDA FS and $120,000,000 for DOI)
- Bipartisan Infrastructure Law requires an increase in base salary of a federal wildland firefighter by lesser of $20,000 per year or 50% of salary after determination within a specified geographic area it is difficult to recruit or retain.
- Forest Service and DOI are working with OPM to determine how to define "wildland firefighter" as it pertains to this provision since the new occupational series is not yet in place.
- Initial analysis comparing average federal and state wages and house purchasing power for firefighter (delineated to common wildland fire geographic areas) is ongoing to help provide insights in how to determine "a specified geopathic area that is difficult to recruit or retain."
- Goal is to have increased payments into paychecks by this summer, either by implementing this provision or using the awards payments model employed last year if we can't fully implement this provision in FY 22.
Conversion to a more permanent workforce: Conversion of temporary wildland fire response positions to permanent, full-time positions available for fire response activities year-round.
- The $600,000,000 provided in the law also can also be used to convert not fewer than 1,000 seasonal firefighters (the total is across both USDA FS and DOI) to full-time, permanent, year-round employees and will reduce hazardous fuels on Federal land not fewer than 800 hours per year.
- The department and Forest Service are identifying personnel that may meet this requirement but recognize that it will likely be difficult for full-time employees to meet response requirements and conduct fuels reduction work 800 hours per year.
August 17, 2021: Implementation of new pay initiatives for wildland firefighters
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Our federal firefighters are an integral part of our agency and, as such, we must acknowledge that part of this workforce is at-risk: federal firefighters are leaving for other agencies or career endeavors. Due to wage disparities with states and other organizations, we have seen key highly trained personnel leave the Forest Service and we have also experienced some inability to recruit new employees into the agency. We must address this issue immediately, and we are proud to do so this year with the support of President Biden, Secretary Vilsack and Chief Moore.
As of pay period 16, firefighters and fire employees will receive incentive awards to help them reach the equivalent pay of $15 per hour. This is just one small step to fairly compensate our fire personnel. We know there is more we need to do in the long term around pay, benefits, title, job series, and mental health and well-being.
We will continue to work toward these other important goals, but they take more time and help from other parts of the federal government. These incentive awards are an immediate step we can take to ensure you are paid fairly.
Incentive awards will come this summer in the following ways:
- Temporary (1039) seasonal fire employees GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below: Temporary (1039) primary/secondary-covered positions for wildland firefighting, GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below, will receive an achievement cash award of $1,300 (resulting in an after-tax amount of $1000).
- Permanent full-time and permanent seasonal fire employees GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below: Permanent full-time and permanent seasonal primary/secondary-covered positions for wildland firefighting, GS-9 and below and WG-8 and below, will receive an achievement cash award equivalent to 10% of their base salaries for 1,040 hours (based on step 5 of grade and the locality pay for the "rest of the United States").
- All GS-3 employees earning a basic rate of less than $15 per hour: Permanent and seasonal GS-3 employees who earn a basic rate of pay of less than $15 per hour will receive additional compensation in their achievement cash awards equal to or more than the difference between their current rate and $15 per hour for a tour of 1,040 hours, regardless of actual tour. This has been calculated to be an additional $1,612.
These awards should arrive in paychecks on your normal pay day for pay period 16, on or about Aug. 23. You can find a list of FAQs on the HRM website (internal link). If you have issues with your paycheck that pay period or you feel you have not been compensated per the description above, you should work with your supervisory chain of command to reconcile the matter. Supervisors who need support with pay issues can contact Lisa Renken, Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management.
Since January 2020, we have endured long and drought-riddled fire seasons resulting in significant and unfortunate loss to our communities, greatly accentuated by the unknowns of COVID-19, international support to Australia and the staffing of vaccination centers. We know this has been incredibly difficult, and we thank you for all you do.
You are valued, and we hope we can gain your trust as we move forward to make long-lasting changes.
garretsontwoun1957.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.fs.usda.gov/inside-fs/delivering-mission/excel/wildland-firefighter-pay-classification-infrastructure-law
0 Response to "Gs Will Continue in the Us"
Post a Comment